Final answer:
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed constitutional amendment that aimed to guarantee equality for women under the law. It gained significant support in the 1970s but ultimately failed to be ratified. Its popularity today is still a matter of debate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed constitutional amendment that aimed to guarantee equality for women under the law, stating that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." The amendment passed Congress in 1972 but fell short of the necessary number of states for ratification.
The popularity of the ERA varied over time. In the 1970s, it gained significant support from both Democrats and Republicans, as well as grassroots movements. However, opposition from conservative groups and worries about potential consequences, such as the removal of legal protections for women, caused a decline in public support. The ERA ultimately failed to be ratified and expired in 1982.
While the ERA has seen renewed interest in recent years, with some states ratifying it decades later, its popularity today remains a subject of debate. Supporters argue that it is necessary to guarantee equal rights for women, while opponents raise concerns about its potential consequences and the need to address gender equality through other means.