Over the recent years, the United States has undergone several important changes, improvements, and reforms within its democratic system of government based on the progressive views and beliefs of the American people. The United States Constitution has given the people of this country their basic rights of freedom, abolished slavery, and given women and all races the right to vote and to be seen as a citizen of America. At first glance, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment may appear to be just what we need to continue this advancement—the equality of the sexes. However, over time, many negative issues have become attached to the Equal Rights Amendment, causing controversy over whether or not to pass this amendment. It is these adverse attachments, along with a closer reading of the amendment itself, that should provoke caution to the American citizen that is so prepared to jump at the opportunity to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. It is incredibly crucial to explore and understand the counteractive effects this amendment would have on the women of the United States and the reasons why you should not support it.
First, if the Equal Rights Amendment passed, numerous protective laws that exist today for women would be declared unconstitutional and lost. For example, the Equal Rights Amendment would take away women’s exemption from conscription, otherwise known as military drafting. The law states that the President has the right to use the act of conscription when he deems it necessary. According to the Selective Service System which controls the draft, as of today only men ages eighteen to twenty-five are required to register in the event of a draft (Selective Service). If the Equal Rights Amendment was passed, this would be considered sex discriminatory and women between these ages would also be required to register as well.
Additionally, it is extremely difficult to ignore the impact that passing the Equal Rights Amendment would have on educational issues, recreational sports, and single-sex societies that exist today. For example, all single-sex schools and colleges would no longer be available and sororities and fraternities would be considered discriminatory. Sports would have to integrate both men and women into teams, even those that have been strictly male-oriented such as football. The YMCA and YWCA would also be integrated, along with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. Phyllis Schlafly, founder of the Eagle Forum and anti-Equal Rights Amendment campaigner, wrote, “If you thought the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was behaving foolishly and arrogantly when it tried to outlaw mother-daughter and father-son events, that’s nothing to the mischief it will do under ERA!” (Schlafly 191). Here, Schlafly stresses the fact that the Equal Rights Amendment will make unconstitutional events such as “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day”.
Finally, another extremely important and highly controversial effect the Equal Rights Amendment would have if passed is the fact that abortion funding would be a new constitutional right. American tax dollars could help to pay for abortions. This may seem difficult to grasp at first, but the proof is found within the words of the amendment itself. The logic is this: if abortion is a procedure that can only be performed on a woman and is treated any differently than a procedure performed on a man, this could be considered “sex discrimination”. The Equal Rights Amendment states that no law should be “abridged…on account of sex”. Therefore, all existing state laws against tax-funding for abortions would be invalidated if the Equal Rights Amendment was passed. Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, believes there is “substantial and concrete evidence that the specific ERA language could have a sweeping pro-abortion impact” (Johnson). Consequently, whether pro-life or pro-choice, American tax-dollars could end up directly funding abortions if this amendment was passed.
Overall, it is very clear that there are far too many issues that exist with the proposed Equal Rights Amendment. Though we have struggled over the centuries to create a lasting equality that exists among all American citizens, the Equal Rights Amendment poses more of a threat to women than a benefit. Even though the Equal Rights Amendment may seem helpful at first glance, there are, unfortunately, a great deal of issues that come attached to this amendment. Because we risk further detrimental effects for women, it is extremely risky to pass such an amendment. It is clear why the Equal Rights Amendment has never been passed into law and why it never should. Therefore, it is crucial that you should not support passing this amendment.
- Johnson, Douglas. “Saying the Equal Rights Amendment Would Not Affect Abortion Is Wrong.” St. Louis Post Dispatch [St. Louis] 8 Apr. 2000. Print.
- Schlafly, Phyllis. “The Question of Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.” Congressional Digest 56.6-7 (1977): 189+. Print.
- Selective Service System. Web. 23 Sept. 2011.
