Back in the 1970s, the late Phyllis Schlafly charged that, if the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) were ratified, women would be subject to the military draft.
Funny thing, though — the ERA was not ratified, yet any return to the draft means our daughters would be forced into combat just like our sons.
The 14th Amendment already requires equal protection of the laws.
Congress proposed the amendment in 1972 with a seven-year period for ratification by the necessary 38 states. Even with an extension, the ERA fell three states short . . . well, make that eight, since five states* rescinded their initial ratifications.
“One thing we are going to need to do right away,” declared Senate Democratic leader Dick Saslaw, “is pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia.”
But it’s back, sorta. In recent years, Nevada and Illinois have ratified the timed-out amendment. And with Democrats taking control of both chambers of the Virginia Legislature in this year’s election, the state could now become the 38th to ratify.
Not so fast. Even Supreme Court justice and progressive action-hero Ruth Bader Ginsberg has made it clear that the amendment has expired, that the process must begin anew. No amendment should be bum-rushed into the Constitution.
Though some conservatives warn the ERA may undermine women’s rights. I support the language of the amendment as it plainly reads: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”**
Possible wrinkle: can anyone read plainly?
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
* Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Tennessee.
** There were two boilerplate clauses, in addition: Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
3 replies on “Equal Wrongs”
But today we have a new wrinkle: gender.
When I was in school, gender was a term of grammar and had three categories: masculine, feminine and neuter. You used pronouns such as he, she and it.
How would the ERA be interpreted today? Do we use DNA to define you? Today’s transgenders would go ballistic if you said that the presence or absence of the “Y” chromosome defined their sex. “Sex” is no longer valid in the culture today. It’s not inclusive enough.
Good point. We should be especially careful about definitions, which would be examined and discussed and debated during hearings and debates over proposing such an amendment anew. That’s why: “No amendment should be bum-rushed into the Constitution.”
This is especially important to get right, because, as noted, we do NOT need an ERA to have clear constitutional equal protection. First do no harm.
Defining a sensitive or non-aggressive male as female is the height of sexism. And indicative of a serious lack of adequate role models in that child’s life, aka abuse. Almost as much abuse as providing a nihilistic culture that they are supposed to fit into.