Existing comment:
"We have a long, long way ahead of us."
At its convention in 1921, the National Woman's Party (NWP) tallied women's rights still to be won: property rights, divorce and custody rights, the ability to enter into contracts and serve on a jury with their peers, equal pay, the right to retain earnings, equal education opportunities, and more. Accordingly, the NWP initiated a massive campaign to remove legal barriers against women. In 1923, Senator Charles Curtis and Representative Daniel Anthony of Kansas introduced the Equal Rights Amendments (ERA), drafted by Alice Paul. Introduced in every session of Congress from 1923 to 1972, the amendment finally passed in 1972 and went to the states for ratification with a seven-year deadline. Despite an extension through June 1982, the amendment fell three states short of the thirty-eight required to ratify. Since that time, the ERA continues to be reintroduced in every session of Congress. |