Our Shared Shelf discussion

In part IV of chapter 2 of My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinem discusses the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the Houston convention.

It was first proposed in 1923, but failed in Congress. In the 70s, despite passing in both houses of Congress and a three-year extension to 1982, it was not ratified by enough state legislatures.

The ERA has since been proposed in every Congress since, but it still has not been added to the Constitution.

I'm interested in discussing the implications of this. I also think the dynamics of the Houston Convention and counterconventions are still reflected in the rhetoric surrounding the ERA today, so I'm wondering what you all think about that?

For those who do not live in the U.S., does your country have a specific law like the ERA that guarantees equality for all regardless of gender? What are the implications of it (or its non-existence)?

Here's a link that details the history of the ERA, the strategies currently being undertaken in attempts to get it ratified, and other useful information: equalrightsamendment.org

I was disappointed to see that my state (Missouri) has not yet ratified it. It's frustrating to see how close it has come to becoming law.

It strikes me how poor United States Constitution is. Actually, in Spanish Constitution we have this article: "Spaniards are equal before the law and may not in any way be discriminated against on account of birth, race, sex, religion, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance." which is approximately what ERA is trying to achieve in your country. There was a similar article in our former constitution, which was published in 1931, though it didn't last very long due to Franco's dictatorship. We also have a few laws that try to cripple sexist behaviours like domestic violence. However, I have to say that even with all these measures, sexism is too present in spanish women's everyday life. What I mean is that, though an amendment like ERA proposes is necessary, it is not enough, we still need to create conscience about sexism in people in order to erradicate it.

For all you German speaking people, there's a good wikipedia article about equality and the law in different nations: https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleic...

In the Uk we have the Equality act (2010) which addresses all forms of discrimination, previously it was the sex discrimination act (1975) and race discrimination act. There was also an equal pay act in 1970, but this is an issue which is currently being much discussed and is definitely not equal!

Thanks for your responses!

Ana - I agree with what you said. There needs to be a lot more done beyond the ERA (or ERA-like legislation, for other countries), but when even the basic acknowledgement of equality is not part of the Constitution, it's all a bit hopeless. To some extent, many people see it as mostly symbolic, but in reality, the fact that after all these years it still hasn't been ratified, really sends a message.

Abigail - Is the Equal Pay Act just not sufficient or outdated? Or is there something else going on that is threatening equal pay?
It is an ongoing problem in the U.S., as well. We have the Equal Pay Act of 1963, but the gender gap persists. There are efforts being made, but there's a long way to go, especially since so many people are in denial that there is significant discrimination in pay based on gender, race, and many other factors.

That is an interesting question. I had to look it up, as I was not informed about the situation here. Apparently, in Belgium, we have 3 laws concerning equality and discrimination: an anti-racism law, a gender equality law and an anti-discrimination law. All 3 together make discrimination based on the following things illegal:

so-called race, nationality, skin colour, origin or national or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, civil status, birth, wealth, political belief, faith or personal belief, language, current or future health condition, disability, a physical or genetic characteristic, social origin and/or (added in 2013) gender identity and gender expression.

Which to me, seems like quite a complete list.

The constitution is less comprehensive. We have "Equality between men and women is guaranteed" and something about all Belgian people enjoying the rights and freedoms without discrimination.

Katelyn, I would be so interested in hearing your opinion on the cuestions you asked for us citizens, if possible. x

Unfortunately, a lot of people believe it was ratified. When I taught at a women's college, this would often come up, and the students couldn't believe it was not law. And the discussion surrounding why it wasn't was always interesting.

The Equal Rights Amendment was a topic during the GOP debate. Same boring argument about women being drafted. Yawn

Terena wrote: "The Equal Rights Amendment was a topic during the GOP debate. Same boring argument about women being drafted. Yawn"

I know! So ridiculous! I believe it was Jeb who reminded everyone that discussion of drafts is entirely hypothetical and that there would not be another draft. Like... come on! How is that still being debated??

Kelly wrote: "Unfortunately, a lot of people believe it was ratified. When I taught at a women's college, this would often come up, and the students couldn't believe it was not law. And the discussion surroundin..."

I've noticed this in classes, as well. I once got into a fierce debate with someone about whether or not it was ratified. We didn't have computers and weren't allowed to use phones in class, but I had to end up just demanding she look it up online when she got home. So frustrating.

Are there any memorable anecdotes from those discussions about why it's not been ratified?

Thank you @Thea for the link. It helped me to write the latter:

As I just found out, Austria made its first attempt to equality back in 1849 ( it was after the revolution 1848, so that is important because the conservative people (including the new emperor Franz Joseph, man of Sisi) won the revolution.) With the march constitution, the formal equality of men and women was first introduced.(That's early, if you ask me.) 1919 nobility was disestablished. The declaration of human rights was signed in 1948 and Freedom of Religion was achieved between 1871 and 1919. Every man was allowed to vote 1907, woman 1918. 1955 people minorities were acknowledged.(Roma and Sinti, Hungarians, Italians, Germans, Slowenians...) Other laws for minorities were established( like allowing to communicate in one's own language at official institutions...) in 1976. Since 1976 both boys and girls are coeducated at state schools and there's civil service, not only service at the gun. Since 1979 every kind of discrimination in the working space is outlawed. 1990 Austria signed the UN-Children's rights convention. Since 2005 sign language is acknowledged as a minority language. In 2006 the complete equalisation of people with special needs (is this the politically correct, non-offending term? I don't know.) took place. Since 2008 all official web sites have to be barrier free. Since 2010 we even have civil union.

So, you see. We started from early on, and we achieved a lot. But we still have to achieve a lot. (intersex people *hm, hm*)

So from the discussion above, it sounds like Austria so far is the only nation that really has active equality laws on the books that also function like they're supposed to? Surely there are others? And if not, what in the WORLD is wrong with the rest of us? This is the 21st century, this should be old, old news by now, but it's not, and that's pretty despicable in my view.

Alana. Iceland. Canada of course but you are right still regrettably few nations really have it together yet. Still we have to keep the pressure up and they will.

Alana wrote: "So from the discussion above, it sounds like Austria so far is the only nation that really has active equality laws on the books that also function like they're supposed to? Surely there are others..."

There are the laws, but everyday life is different. We still have to achieve much for the LGBTQIA+ community, a civil union has the same obligations as a marriage, but not the same rights, we need to diminish the Nazi ideas (although we do have strict laws on that the rise of the FPÖ bothers me very much), and surely some other stuff I don't know about, but mostly it is about awareness in the population and treatment of others.

MeerderWörter wrote: "There are the laws, but everyday life is different."

That is certainly the truth, among all nations and across a variety of issues! What's on paper doesn't always equal reality....

Alana wrote: "MeerderWörter wrote: "There are the laws, but everyday life is different."

That is certainly the truth, among all nations and across a variety of issues! What's on paper doesn't always equal reali..."

My mom actually told me a few days after I wrote that comment that Austria has one of the highest wage gaps within the EU - I can't believe it! And there are some other issues that need to be adressed, from my perspective it's mostly awareness-raising that needs to be done.
I don't say it's really bad when it comes to equality in Austria, but there are still quite a few issues that need to be adressed.

I was so glad when I read on Twitter about the Istanbul convention and asked the account whether Austria had already ratified it, and they wrote back within a few minutes that Austria had done that already some years ago. (With other issues we need ages and only the fact that otherwise we have to pay a fine we then do it:( )

The situation in the UK with reguards to ERA is in flux many acts in place for years may now be under threat. new legislation is being proposed like the Istanbul convention.

http://researchbriefings.parliament.u...

but there have been issues since BREXIT with anti feminist action against even this act to protect victims of domestic abuse.

and example of the situation in the UK can be seen in this article again concerning the struggle to to protect women from domestic violence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...