Monday, February 7, 2011

The text of the Equal Rights Amendment

Doing some reading about feminism tonight, which prompted me to look up the text of the Equal Rights Amendment. At the barest beginnings of my consciousness—back in the late 70s—I can remember some hubub. But I didn't know what the hubub was about. 

This is it:

bullet Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
bullet Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
bullet

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

 

Doesn't seem like that should've been that big a deal. So why was it?

1 comment:

Notorious Ph.D. said...

Joel, I think that Anonymous here gives you the perfect answer as to why it was such a big deal for some people. If you put it in the constitution that women have to be treated like human beings with their own goals and desires, they're going to neglect their duties to men.