Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was initially proposed in 1923, only 3 years after the passage of the 19th amendment allowing white women the right to vote. The ERA was intended to codify the rights for all under the law, regardless of sex.[1] The full text of the proposed amendment was short, with the full bill reading as follows:
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.
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[2]
Support for the amendment increase during the women's movement in the 1960's and was reintroduced to Congress in 1971 by Michigan Representative Martha Griffiths. The ERA passed both the House and Senate and was sent to the states for ratification. [3]
For a constitutional amendment to pass, 3/4 of states need to ratify it (38 states) within 7 years of it passing Congress. However, after the 7 year deadline passed only 35 states had ratified the ERA. [2] In recent years 3 more states (Nevada, Illinois, and Virginia) have ratified, but 6 more have recinded their ratification (sometimes as early as the year following ratification). [4]
Mormons for ERA Sign, circa 1980
The state of Utah never ratified the ERA but there were significant efforts on both sides. One of the leading voices in support of passing the ERA was Sonia Johnson and Mormons for ERA. Sonia is a 5th generation Latter-day Saint who argued that the ERA was in alignment with Church doctrine that men and women are equal.[5] However, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that the ERA was too vaguely worded, would weaken the family structure, and not needed as current legislation was sufficient. This led to the First Presidency sending a letter to general authorities, mission presidents, and local leaders outlining the Church’s position regarding the ERA and urging them to encourage all member to join together to prevent the amendment’s ratification. This included soliciting donations to support anti-ERA organations, speechs against the amendment at Church meetings, and the use of Church resources to promote this position. [6]
ERA Demonstration in Oakland, California, circa 1980
These concerns were not isolated to the Church but were prevalent nation-wide. Many men and women argued that the ERA was redundant as women were already protected under the law. One of the biggest fears was that passage would lead to women being drafted into combat. Another fear was that women wouldn’t be allowed to be homemakers any more as “men and women were equal” and therefore women would have to financially contribute exactly 50% to the household. [2]
Proponents for passage countered, arguing that, although there were some legal protections for women, these weren't sufficient, and what was there could be overturned; however a constitutional amendment would be much more difficult to repeal. Supporters argued that Congress could already choose to include women in the draft at any time and that the legislation would in fact help support homemakers as present conditions provide very little protections for a married woman with no work experience if her husband leaves or dies. [2]
[1] Equal Rights Amendment. (2018). Equal Rights Amendment. Equal Rights Amendment; Alice Paul Institute. https://www.equalrightsamendment.org
[2] Francis, R. (2025). Why the Equal Rights Amendment Is Duly Ratified as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution [Review of Why the Equal Rights Amendment Is Duly Ratified as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution]. Equalrightsamendment.org. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b69e6324cde7a4a470d4994/t/67a4faf682ad4179fed1749a/1738865398519/Why+the+Equal+Rights+Amendment+is+Duly+Ratified+post-Jan+20+legal+fact+sheet.pdf
[3] Martha Griffiths and the Equal Rights Amendment. (2016, August 15). National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/griffiths
[4] Ratification By State — Equal Rights Amendment. (2014). Equal Rights Amendment. Equal Rights Amendment. https://www.equalrightsamendment.org/era-ratification-map
[5] Sonia Johnson papers - Archives West. (2018). Orbiscascade.org. https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv47851
[6] Equal Rights Amendment. (n.d.). History to Go. https://historytogo.utah.gov/equal-rights-amendment/