Despite significant advances, women in the United States — and right here in San Mateo County — are still not guaranteed equal rights under the law. Challenges like unequal pay, workplace harassment, pregnancy discrimination and domestic violence remain pervasive.
The 2024 election results have heightened the urgency, placing women’s futures in jeopardy. While reproductive rights were affirmed in seven states, including California, these protections could be swept away if restrictive federal laws are enacted.
These national issues hit close to home. In 2023, 75% of the 5,475 victims of domestic violence in San Mateo County were women. Meanwhile, the gender pay gap continues to highlight systemic inequality. In San Mateo County, women earn 90 cents for every dollar earned by men. While this places our county among the most equitable in the country, the standard is low. Across the United States, women’s salaries in many places are about two-thirds those of men, and only one county — Prince George’s County, Maryland — sees women earning more than men.
This is why we need the Equal Rights Amendment now.
The ERA is a constitutional amendment that guarantees equal rights under the law, regardless of sex. Introduced by suffragist Alice Paul in 1923, it was passed by Congress in 1972 with more than the necessary two-thirds vote. In 2020, the ERA achieved ratification by 38 states (three-fourths), meeting the constitutional threshold.
If enshrined in the Constitution, the ERA would:
• Strengthen protections against sex discrimination by raising the judicial standard for these cases;
• Prevent rollbacks of existing rights, ensuring that progress cannot be undone; and
• Lay the foundation for further advances in sex and gender equality.
Although the ERA has been ratified by the required number of states, a time limit for ratification — added to its preamble by Congress in 1972 — expired before the final state votes. As a result, the amendment’s status remains in political limbo.
A joint resolution in Congress (S.J. Res. 4/H.J. Res. 25) affirms that the ERA is valid and would remove any ambiguity over the time limit. However, President Biden doesn’t need to wait for Congress. He can instruct the U.S. Archivist to certify and publish the ERA, officially making it the 28th amendment.
While President Biden has voiced support for the ERA, he has deferred action to a deeply divided Congress. This hesitation costs more than time — it costs lives, opportunities and basic human dignity. Mr. President, your legacy is calling. The power to enshrine equality is in your hands.
The League of Women Voters and local advocacy
The League of Women Voters has championed the ERA for decades. Locally, the League of Women Voters of North & Central San Mateo County advocates for:
• Equal rights for all under state and federal law, regardless of sex, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability;
• Final publication of the fully ratified ERA; and
• Aligning existing laws with the principles of the ERA.
San Mateo County is also home to organizations dedicated to advancing women’s equality.
• Commission on the Status of Women: Advises the county on issues affecting women, such as pay equity and safety (smcgov.org/csw);
• CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse): Provides support services to survivors of domestic violence and works to prevent future abuse (corasupport.org); and
• Women in County Government: Promotes professional development and advocacy for women working in government roles (smcwicg.wordpress.com).
While these groups embody San Mateo County’s commitment to gender equality, they also highlight the limitations of localized action in the absence of a strong, nationwide framework for equality. The ERA offers the structural change needed to ensure lasting progress for women in San Mateo County and across the country.
What can you do to support the ERA?
Be part of this pivotal moment in history. Here’s how you can help:
• Urge President Biden to instruct the U.S. Archivist to publish the ERA. Take action at LWV.org/take-action;
• Spread the word. Talk with friends and family about why the ERA matters and how it will shape a more equal future for all.
Equality can’t wait. Let’s ensure San Mateo County stands on the right side of history. Together, we can make equal rights the law of the land.
Tina Doede is president and Edith Jones is a board member of the League of Women Voters of North & Central San Mateo County.
(5) comments
“Lay the foundation for further advances in sex and gender equality.“ let’s start by protecting women who are actually women from men pretending to be women because there are no further advances in gender
Interesting point NSC - why would some transgender types voluntarily be subject to the alleged discrimination when they want to be categorized as female? Something does not add up. One member of the Supreme Court does not even know what a woman is, so where does that ERA leave us?
Thanks for your guest perspective, Ms. Doede and Ms. Jones, explaining background of the ERA and the potential “pros” of why you feel the ERA should be enshrined. But can we say today that the 38 states that voted previously for the ERA still support the ERA? A quick search results in numerous links highlighting potential “cons” of the current ERA and perhaps they are what is preventing the ERA from being enshrined. Not to mention potential legal challenges in trying to “backdoor” the Amendment as how I’ve interpreted your play. Perhaps the ERA, as previously written should be revisited and modified to be current and states be allowed to determine whether in this day and age, whether they’ll ratify the updated ERA.
Would the ERA force women to register for the draft
Don’t be silly, equality is not really equal
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