Written by: Maya Gibel
In December, 1923, an Amendment was proposed to Congress that would prohibit gender discrimination in every aspect. This Amendment was written and introduced by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman, and it was called the Equal Rights Amendment. Although it has been over a century since this Amendment was introduced, it still hasn’t been ratified. When I first heard about this predicament, as a soon-to-be woman living in the United States, I wondered why. Why weren’t we allowed the rights to live freely from workplace, political, and economical discrimination like the opposite gender was?
In the United States, the defining document used to determine final validity of U.S. law is the Constitution. The Constitution holds the many laws and amendments that guarantee citizens rights such as freedom of speech, a right to a jury, and more. An especially notable part of the Constitution are the amendments that were created to stop discrimination on the basis of race and gender, and the section I looked into the most. Examples of these Amendments include the 15th Amendment, which guaranteed African American men the right to vote, and the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote. Another major one is the 14th Amendment, including the Equal Protection Clause, which protects citizen's privileges and immunities. After the Supreme Court extended this protection to women in 1971, it guaranteed every citizen equal protection under the law. However, even after this modification was made, individual discrimination cases are still left up to standard judicial review, and to this day, gender discrimination still isn't against the law.
You can do your part to help by supporting the movement against gender discrimination. Actions like donating to the cause, and supporting programs like one called UN Women that my friend, Nadia Lach-Hab, and I, Maya Gibel, have started to support women’s rights and health primarily by raising money for feminine hygiene products. Another option is checking out any of your local women’s shelters that are in need of volunteers and contributions.
Laws like the Equal Rights Amendment would solidify the place of women in our society as equal beings, with the same rights, same deserving bodies to apply for high-paying jobs, achieve the same goals, and be able to make decisions for our country without prejudice. Gender discrimination has always been a prominent part of society. Whether it was in the workplace, television, politics, and even at home, problems existed everywhere threatening the place of women in our society. It’s never been fair, but society is changing. Maybe someday, with your help, we can reach the point where discrimination is nearly a forgotten word, and everybody has the ability to accept how strong women can be.
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