The E.R.A. was first introduced to Congress in 1923.

Alice Paul (1885-1977), who was instrumental in the passage of the 19th Amendment—which gave women the right to vote in the U.S.—introduced the Equal Rights Amendment to Congress in 1923.

Hmm. Maybe I knew this at some point, but I think of it as a 1970s sort of battle. It was ratified by 35 of the 38 necessary states, but has not been passed to this day.

It was called the Lucretia Mott Amendment and it very simply reads:

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Pretty scary stuff.

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