Feminists have been pushing for the ERA for a very long time now, and I can respect that. Without the ERA, the Constitution does not explicitly guarantee that the rights it protects are held equally by all citizens without regard to sex. The first — and still the only — right specifically affirmed as equal for women and men is the right to vote.

Passing the ERA would mean the following:

  • In the unlikely event of a military draft happening again, women will be drafted as well as men

  • All rape charges will be finally be taken equally seriously. Be it man-on-man, man-on-woman, woman-on-woman or woman-on-man.

  • The "pay gap" will be a thing of the past for women that are prepared to work, and with the ERA, they would be expected to work EXACTLY the same hours as their male counterparts and do the same work as is expected from them.

  • Women and men would receive the same bonus when promoted. (Some women get extra bonuses when receiving a promotion).

  • Child custody judgements would change heavily in divorce settlements and we might finally be able to judge each case on a real case-by-case basis, and find out what is right for the child, rather than just going for the default answer of giving the kids to the Mum.

  • Women guilty of domestic violence, will be charged the same a man guilty of domestic violence is.

ALong with all of this would come great progression with the guaranteed protection of gay rights and abortion rights which are always under threat from reactionary politicians.

I truly feel as a humanist, it is time to pass the ERA.

Thoughts?