Bioneer, did you know women still don’t have constitutional rights?

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Bioneer, do you think that women have equal rights under the law in this country? Most of us assume equality for women under the law is already a reality (80% of us, per polling data). But guess what? For nearly a century, women leaders have championed an amendment to the constitution known as the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). It was introduced to Congress in 1923 with one goal: To guarantee that women and their rights are protected under the Constitution. The amendment passed Congress in 1972 and was sent to the states for ratification, but fell three states short of the 38 needed before the deadline expired in 1982. Since then, the ERA has been introduced to each session of Congress, but remains in limbo. The reality is, in 2019, women do not yet possess Constitutionally protected equal rights. The implications are extensive: Gender discrimination is legally held to a less strict standard than other forms of discrimination. The landmark Violence Against Women Act has been watered down because of a lack of constitutional basis. “All men are created equal” still literally means “all men.” Fortunately, there’s renewed energy behind the cause. Thanks to the ERA Coalition—read an interview with its founder Jessica Neuwirth here—and like-minded organizations and individuals, progress is being made: In 2017 and 2018, Nevada and Illinois became the 36th and 37th states to ratify the ERA. Now, it’s up to us to make sure one more state ratifies and that the expired 1982 deadline is removed by the 115th Congress. Only then will women’s equal rights become a legal reality. Read on to learn more about the ERA, why it matters, the women’s rights leaders and organizations who have gotten us to where we are today, and what you can do to get involved. Celebrate Women’s History Month by propelling this dream of our suffragist forebears forward. Person to Know: An Interview with Jessica Neuwirth, founder of the ERA Coalition In this interview, Jessica Neuwirth, founder of the ERA Coalition, talks in depth about the importance and history of the ERA, what it hopes to achieve, and what you can do to help push it forward. Neuwirth has spent her career fighting for human rights. She’s worked for Amnesty International and the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, and taught international human rights at Harvard. As the founder and co-president of the ERA Coalition and a founder of Equality Now, she’s a leading figure in the drive toward the Constitutional guarantee for women’s rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution to be equal to men. When Women Are People…and Corporations Are Not Often the same adversaries oppose women’s, anti-racist, environmental, peace, human rights, indigenous, sexual liberation, consumer, children’s rights and other such movements. Yet these movements often remain separate despite their organic linkage. Gloria Steinem, the iconic leader who continues to inhabit the leading edges of progressive social change, traces the historical, political and practical reasons movements are linked — not ranked — and why our success depends on it. This Week on Bioneers Radio & Podcast Equal Rights Amendment: Time’s Up Ever since women won the right to vote in 1920, women leaders and their allies have sought to pass an Equal Rights Amendment to drive total equality and justice for women into the U.S. Constitution. It did pass in 1972, but fell three states short of ratification. Today’s next wave of the women’s movement might finally make the ERA a reality. Join leading three leading advocates of the ERA to learn the true story of what’s at stake and how life would be different and better for women and men. Subscribe to the Bioneers podcast now: iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube Ratify the ERA: How You Can Get Involved Want to do your part to make women’s equal rights a legal reality? It’s time to work together. International human rights organization Equality Now is working to educate Americans and spread awareness about why the Equal Rights Amendment is essential, and gives you the tools you need to help make it a reality. Find out what you can do now to make equal treatment for women a legal right. Take Action! What We’re Tracking: Empowering and making space for women and girls to be innovative and become leaders is the best and fastest way to address the most pressing problems humanity and our planet face. (via Bioneers) Earlier this week, Arizonans marched 38 miles over three days in an support of Arizona becoming the 38th state to ratify the ERA. (Dustin Gardiner, Arizona Republic) The barriers of sexism and racism facing women of color on the campaign trail are vast, but organizations are offering support and training in an effort to address those challenges head on. (Linda Kramer Jenning via Yes!) A look at how colonization and racism have led to an epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and what advocates are doing to fight for justice and equality. (Abaki Beck via Bitch Media) Four leading black women activists and scholars discuss what environmental justice means to them, how it informs their work, and the parallels between climate change and the displacement of people fueled by racism. (Justine Calma and Paola Rosa-Aquino via Grist) At a panel celebrating International Women’s Day, iconic political activist Gloria Steinem, feminist lecturer Sally Roesch Wagner, Emmy-award winning writer and producer Carol Jenkins, and third-generation Mohawk Bear Clan Mother Louise Wakerakats:se Herne discussed intersectional feminism and white privilege. (Marissa Matozzo via The New School Free Press) Do you know people who might enjoy reading this? Please share it with them! Share Tweet Share +1 Forward

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