Warning! Look Out for the So-Called Equal Rights Amendment
5/21/1945
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This pamphlet circulated by the National Committee to Defeat the Un-Equal Rights Amendment charged that the ERA was “vague and legally unsound,” “unnecessary,” and “dangerous.”
It was sent alongside letters to Representative Hatton Sumners from Margaret Austin Stone, secretary of the National Committee to Defeat the Un-Equal Rights Amendment and to Promote Equal Opportunities.
It was sent alongside letters to Representative Hatton Sumners from Margaret Austin Stone, secretary of the National Committee to Defeat the Un-Equal Rights Amendment and to Promote Equal Opportunities.
Transcript
[left panel]Let Us Promote Equal Opportunities This Way:
REMOVE DISCRIMINATIONS AGAINST WOMEN BY SPECIFIC BILLS FOR SPECIFIC ILLS IN EACH STATE
Some of the difference in treatment of men and women under state laws are for the benefit of the family, while others are advantageous to working women. A few are definitely discriminatory.
You can remove the discriminations against women now in your state laws if you will insist that your legislature change these few laws. In this way, you will preserve the benefits to the family while, at the same time, you will be eliminating legal discriminations.
Write to the address given below to find out who heads the committee for this purpose in your state.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEAT THE UN-EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
1707 H ST., N. W.
WASHINGTON 6, D.C.
[central panel]
We OPPOSE the Equal Rights Amendments
The Committee to Defeat the Un-Equal Rights Amendment has been organized to coordinate the widespread opposition to this Amendment. Headquarters are in Washington at 1707 H St., N.W., Chairman, Mrs. Thomas F. McAllister; Treasurer, Miss Marry Anderson; Secretary, Mrs. J. Austin Stone.
These national organizations are opposed to the Amendment:
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Women's Auxiliaries of Labor
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
Congress of Industrial Organizations
Congress of Women's Auxiliaries of the C.I.O.
Food, Tobacco, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union of America
Girls' Friendly society of the United States
International Coordinating committee U A W Auxiliary
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
International Union United Automobile, Agricultural Implement Workers of America, C. I.O.
League of Women Shoppers, Inc.
National Consumers League
National Council of Catholic Women
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Negro Women
National Farmers Union
National Federation of Settlements, Inc.
National League of Women Voters
National Maritime Union, Women's Auxiliary
National Women's Trade Union League of America
Service Star Legion, Inc.
The National Board of the Young Women's Christian Associations of the United States of America
Union for Democratic Actions
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America, CIO
United Federal Workers of America, C.I.O.
United Office and Professional Workers of America, C.I.O.
Women's National Homeopathie Medical Fraternity
[right panel]
WARNING!
Look Out
for the so-called
Equal Rights
Amendment
[image of crossed signs on a signpost with the words equality and danger]
It won't create
It will destroy
[left panel]
The so-called Equal Rights Amendment
WON'T Give You a Job
If the employer prefers to hire a man.
WON'T Give you Equal Pay
One way to get equal pay is through state laws. Five states already have such laws.
WON'T Bring Patients to the Woman Physician
Those persons who prefer a man physician won't be affected in their prejudices by this Amendment.
WON'T Bring Clients to the Woman Lawyer
No law can make a person take his case to a woman lawyer if her prefers a man.
WON'T Bring You More Business or Equal Opportunity for Promotion
Competition in the labor market will be just the same.
[center panel]
The Proposed Amendment to the Constitution:
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
"Congress and the several States shall have power within their respective jurisdictions, to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
"This amendment shall take effect three years after the date of ratification."
READ IT CAREFULLY
and you will see that:
1. it is not practical, because it deals with abstract rights--not real rights. Most of the existing discriminations are matters of traditional and custom, not law.
2. It is vague and legally unsound, and would lead to endless confusion.
Whatever the legal status in regard to the civil matters differs for men and women in State or Federal Legislation, great confusion would arise as to what standards to adopt, whether those for men or for women.
3. It is unnecessary.
It can accomplish nothing that is not already being done!
4. It is misleading, and therefore dangerous, because it masquerades as a progressive measure, whereas it would actually destroy progress toward equal rights, and would undermine the foundations of family life.
[right panel]
This Dangerous
Amendment
WOULD Imperil Family Support
In the name of a spurious "equality" it would either deprive the wife of the right to support from her husband or give the husband an equal right to be supported by his wife.
WOULD Deprive Widows of Protection
These provisions would be threatened: (1) Social Security benefits for widows; (2) support allowances during the settlement of the husband's estate; (3) possession of the family home free from creditors' claims,
WOULD Wipe Out--
1. State Minimum-Wage Laws for women.
2. Women's Hour Laws.
3. All other special legislation for women.
WOULD Prohibit the Enactment of any kind of special legislation for women, no matter how imperative such legislation might be.
WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON THIS CIRCULAR FOR INFORMATION AS TO WHAT LAWS IN YOUR STATE WOULD BE JEOPARDIZED BY PASSAGE OF THE SO-CALLED EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives.
National Archives Identifier: 7452157
Full Citation: Letter from Margaret Austin Stone of the National Committee to Defeat the Un-Equal Rights Amendment and to Promote Equal Opportunities, to Representative Hatton Sumners; 5/21/1945; (HR 79A-D21); Bill Files, 1903 - 1968; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/unequal-rights-amendment, May 13, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.