Question

Why did phyllis schlafly oppose the equal rights amendment?.

Answer 1

Phyllis Schlafly opposed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) for several reasons.

Firstly, she believed that the ERA would undermine traditional gender roles and the family structure. Schlafly argued that the ERA would lead to the drafting of women into the military, unisex bathrooms and locker rooms, and the loss of alimony and child support payments for divorced women.

Secondly, Schlafly believed that the ERA would lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage and the loss of legal protections for women in areas such as alimony, child custody, and child support.

Thirdly, Schlafly believed that the ERA was unnecessary, as she argued that women already had equal rights under the law. She believed that the ERA would create more problems than it would solve and that it was a radical feminist agenda that would harm traditional family values.

Overall, Schlafly saw the ERA as a threat to traditional gender roles and the family structure, and she believed that it was unnecessary and would cause more harm than good.

Answer 2

Phyllis Schlafly opposed the Equal Rights Amendment, arguing it would eliminate protective laws for women and challenge family and societal structures. Her STOP ERA campaign was effective in speaking to privilege and class concerns, ultimately contributing to the failure of the ERA's ratification.

Step-by-step explanation:

Phyllis Schlafly opposed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) because she believed that it would eliminate laws that protected women and lead to a loss of certain privileges. She highlighted concerns that women would lose preferential treatment in child custody laws, become subject to the draft, and be less likely to receive alimony and child support payments. Schlafly's STOP ERA movement argued that the ERA would negate gender-specific restrooms and exemptions from the military draft that women enjoyed. Moreover, Schlafly held the view that women's role as homemakers was essential to society and viewed feminism as an attack on the family unit and Christian tradition. Her opposition was not only to the ERA but also to elements she believed were linked to it, such as government-supported abortions and the promotion of LGBTQ rights.

Her campaign was effective, as it spoke to both privilege and class concerns, and ultimately led to the failure of the ERA to be ratified despite initial widespread support. Schlafly's narrative was that the feminist movement was elitist and that working-class women would suffer from the loss of protective laws. Ultimately, she successfully raised questions about the practical implications of having a government that could not make any distinctions based on gender in its laws.