#Caldera
Here’s a 200-word paragraph on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA):
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. First introduced in 1923 by suffragist Alice Paul, the ERA sought to end legal distinctions between men and women in matters such as divorce, property, employment, and other areas. Despite gaining momentum during the women's rights movement in the 1970s, the amendment fell short of ratification by three states after its 1982 deadline. The ERA simply states, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” Supporters argue it would provide a clear judicial standard for deciding cases of sex discrimination and strengthen protections for women’s rights under the law. Opponents often claim it could have unintended consequences, such as affecting laws on abortion or same-sex issues. In recent years, the ERA has regained attention, with several states ratifying it post-deadline and legal debates continuing over whether those ratifications can be counted. The ERA remains a powerful symbol of the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the United States, representing both progress made and the barriers that persist.
