Final answer:
The argument against passing the ERA in the 1970s was that it could end gender-specific legal protections for women, leading to potential conscription and affecting family structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
One argument against passing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970s was the concern that it would end gender-specific privileges that women enjoyed.
Some housewives feared that the ERA would remove protections for them, such as presumptions in favor of women regarding alimony after divorce.
Additionally, there were concerns that the ERA might allow for the military conscription of women and the legalization of same-sex marriage, adding to the public hesitation.
The prominent figure opposing the ERA was Phyllis Schlafly, leading the STOP ERA movement. Schlafly contended that the ERA would undermine the family and traditional gender roles, which played a significant role in halting the momentum of the ERA's ratification.