With Change comes Backlash

In Ms. O'Connel's talk, I thought a lot about Phyllis Schflay's argument against the ERA. In my opinion, the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment wouldn't have taken away women's status as being a mother and it would only help them in the workplace. The interesting thing is that Schlflay really had a big group of followers that were afraid of the consequences of becoming equal. Afraid of being drafted, and having to protect themselves in the workplace. 

Growing up in a more progressive household I never thought about the "negative" effects of creating equal rights for women. I truly thought all women wanted to have the same rights as men. Now that I think about Schlflay I understand how this was such a controversial topic, a topic that wasn't just divided between the two genders. There was so much going on and so much uncertainty during the second wave of feminism. The country was in Vietnam so there were protests about that, and women were afraid they were going to be drafted. In a time where thousands of soldiers were being killed, I understand what Schlafly was worried about. What OC forgot to mention though was that Schlflay was working in the government and wanted to be a politician. She even ran for Congress. She was given opportunities in our government despite being a woman. I understand why Schlflay was afraid of the ERA especially because she was being treated way better than other women. Mrs. America the TV show starring Schlflay and other women opposing the ERA emphasized the issue of how white rich women were being treated compared to black women with poor socioeconomic status. As OC said most women who support Schlflay were religious white women who were rich. They already had more respect and opportunities compared to minority women. I think a big part of the women's rights movement was and still is about perspective. There are so many other factors besides being women that go into how we are being treated. This is one concept that I think the women's rights movement does not address enough. I am not agreeing that the ERA shouldn't have been ratified but rather emphasizing the importance of perspective and reasoning behind why people have the opinions that they do. 

Women are not only being treated differently based on their gender but based on race and economic status. The women's rights movement has a great message and meaning, but I feel like their needs to be more awareness of how race and class ties into gender discrimination.