The U.S. Constitution does not guarantee equal rights for women. The only right guaranteed women in the United States have is the right to vote. The Equal Rights Amendment states:
“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.”
It is a simple statement that would define the meaning of “We the people” to include the majority of the population — that is women.
Why the ERA
Women fighting for equal pay lack a consistent judicial standard for legal cases, with women earning 85 cents for every dollar earned by a man, and the racial-based gender pay gap remains stalled, with Black women earning 64 cents and Latinas 53 cents. According to the Shriver Report, one in three American women—42 million women plus 28 million children—live in poverty or on the brink of it (defined as earning $47,000 a year for a family of four). Two-thirds of American women are either primary or co-breadwinners of their families. One in four women is a victim of severe intimate partner physical violence, and one in five has been or will be raped. The ERA would ensure fair consideration in court cases concerning the wage gap, domestic violence, rape, forced prostitution, and sexual slavery. Additionally, the poverty gap between men and women is wider than anywhere else in the Western world, with more than one in 10 women aged 18 and older—over 14 million—living in poverty in 2023.
What You Can Do.
Launching your Power of One is simple. Start small and grow your impact with minimal time investment. Commit to half an hour once a week. Talk to close friends and family about your advocacy. Check our website or our social media once a week for updates and latest news.
How to Build Your Grassroots Effort (Low-Effort Approach)
- Week 1: Call Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to thank her for introducing S.J. Res. 38, which affirms the ERA as the 28th Amendment. Then call your senators and representative using the script below.
- Time commitment: 5-10 minutes.
- Week 2: Invite 1-2 friends or family members to join you. Share the campaign link via text or social media like Facebook
- Tool: Use WhatsApp or a group text for coordination.
- Each Week: Add one more person to your network and encourage them to call or write. Share updates on social media to inspire others.
- Tip: Post a quick tweet on X or Instagram story with #PowerOfOne or #ERANow.
- Track Progress: Ask congressional offices to tally your call as a supporter of S.J. Res. 38 (ERA) and the PRO Act.
:Low-Effort Tips to Amplify Your Campaign
- Social Media: Share the campaign link on X, Facebook, or Instagram with a quick note: “Join me in calling Congress for #ERANow and the #PROAct!”
- Recruit: Text 2-3 contacts weekly to join your calls. Use free tools like Resistbot to send messages to Congress.
- Celebrate Wins: If a legislator responds or co-sponsors, post about it to inspire others.
- Stay Informed: Check updates from Katrina’s Dream or ERA Action
This approach requires just a few minutes weekly, leveraging personal networks and digital tools to amplify your voice
Forward Sister, Forward!
The suffrage movement in Seneca Falls nourished abolitionism and feminism in the 1840s. Abolitionist Abby Kelley spoke against slavery at an outdoor rally there in 1843. One of her followers was later convicted of “disorderly and unchristian conduct” for arguing with the local Presbyterian minister about abolition. Read more…
