Womankind — We’re Still Not Equal

In the States, the statistics are appalling.

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was authored by Alice Paul in 1923. When it finally came up for a vote it was 1972. It did not gain the required thirty-eight states necessary to pass. Only twenty-two states ratified it in 1972. The amendment has been in a waffling ratification limbo since 1972. Thirteen more states ratified the amendment between 1973 and 1977. There has been two additional states to ratify the amendment in 2017 (Nevada) and 2018 (Illinois). However, between 1973 and 1978 (Nebraska, Tennessee, Idaho, & Kentucky) rescinded their ratification votes, though, it remains unclear if it is constitutional to rescind such a ratification vote. The result is: Womankind still does not have equal rights under the law in the United States of America.

Long before #MeToo, when I was in college, taking a self-defense course, they told us: Think of five women you know. One will be a victim of violent assault. One will be a victim of physical abuse. One will be a victim of sexual abuse. One will be a victim of acquaintance rape. One will be a victim of violent sexual assault. Three will be victims of verbal assault. Four will be victims of harassment. All of them will be victims of sexual harassment. Then they told us to think of those examples and asked the question: Five women… Five… How many of those five women will be victimized multiple times?

The #MeToo movement finally laid bare women’s real experience — what it’s meant since time immemorial to be a woman. Our womanhood has been shaped and often defined by the abuses and terrors virtually unique to our gender. Women share our experiences with less trepidation. But, what has changed… really?

• Trump issued an executive order, trying to rollback the Fair Pay and Safe Work Spaces Act — an executive order signed by Obama which especially benefitted POC and women. A judge prevented him in April 2019.
• We still have a POTUS who has been accused by twenty women reporting he assaulted them — some who were as young as thirteen years old at the time.
• This American president — ostensibly, leader of the free world — calls women leaders “nasty” — both women here and around the world who challenge him or just don’t gush sycophantically about him.
• Women still make only 79¢ on the dollar to what white men make for the same work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in April 2019. Black women make 61¢, while other WOC make less than 55¢ per dollar.
• Women are still penalized professionally and socially for being working moms…
• And, for NOT being working moms.
• Women are still NOT constitutionally guaranteed equal rights. The ERA has remained in limbo since 1972.
• Our self-autonomy is under assault by our government. Woman-hating judges have taken over the judiciary. Reproductive rights are being rolled back in red-state after red-state.
• Girls and women remain unequal in education, even actively guided away from STEM and medical school education.
• Our hygiene products — in every practical way no different from the same men’s products — cost three to four times as much.
• Micro aggressions against women have NOT noticeably declined – could arguably be seen to be on the rise.

There was never a space where men are that womanhood wasn’t a life under fire. Even now… I’m an old, worn down, fat, and crippled woman with the confidence of age and experience to tell someone where to step off. Yet, the last time I was out and about, (waiting for my son who went up another aisle to fetch something on our list) a male stranger said something lewd. If that’s what I’m experiencing, what are our young, still growing their confidence young girls and women experiencing?

Yes… we are loud and strong and clearly not going to be silenced any longer. But, what has actually changed? Other than finding our collective Voice, what has changed for womankind? How long will our Voice remain loud and proud and relevant without in-real-life substantive equality?

Thirteen states have not voted at all on the amendment. My state, North Carolina is one of them. Is yours?

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Utah
• Virginia

Will the ERA ever be passed while womankind continues to battle for even the most basic human right of self-autonomy? Can we fight for the ERA while we’re bogged down in the minutia of internecine battles to just not be relegated to second class humans? Can we afford NOT to fight for the ERA? Will you pledge to keep fighting?