ERA Research
1. Primary Source Analysis
https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/shirleychisholmequalrights.htm
https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/celler-mccreary
Pro: Shirley Chisholm Speech, “For the Equal
Rights Amendment
Why does Chisholm think the passage of the ERA
is important? Cite at least 2 reasons:
A: Chisholm thinks the passage of the ERA is
important because she believes that this is
needed "to clarify countless ambiguities and
inconsistencies in our legal system"(paragraph 5
lines 1-2). She also believes that the passage is
needed to "assure full equality of opportunity"
for women.
Give 2 examples of economic benefits the ERA
would secure for women:
A: Two economic benefits the ERA would secure
for women is opportunity for women in better-
paying jobs in manufacturing. And more
opportunities in public vocational and graduate
schools for women.
What does Chisholm mean when she says, “Legal
discrimination between the sexes is, in almost
every instance, founded on outmoded views of
society and the pre-scientific beliefs about
Con: Letter from John McCreary (Attorney)
to Congressman Cellar
What is McCreary’s biggest concern about the
ERA?
A: McCreary's biggest concern is that if the ERA
passes women will lose their special exempt
status to some laws that govern men.
Why do you think he focuses on women needing
to be special or exceptional to men?
A: I think he focuses on women needing to be
exceptional to men because that's the life that
he (like a lot of other men in his time period)
were accustomed to.
List 1 main reason as to why the ERA should not
be ratified:
A: According to McCreary, one main reason why
the ERA should not be ratified is because some
laws work to the disadvantage of women. The
solution is to repeal those laws, not negate all of
the other laws which are to the women's benefit
like the ERA insists on doing.
Is giving women special protections equality?
What does McCreary’s argument have in
common with some previous opposition points
we’ve discussed?
 psychology and physiology”:

A: I believe that giving special protections to

women is not equality. What McCreary's
A: Chisholm believes that laws that discriminate
argument has in common with some opposing
between the sexes are based on outdated
points we had discussed in class is that we both
beliefs that there is a difference between men
talked about how the solution to the women
and women both physically or emotionally.
equality issue is not to negate laws that are
already in place, but to repeal or reverse those
laws.

2. Political Cartoon Analysis

Political Cartoon 1: Gender Roles Cartoon, 1982
https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-equal-rights-amendment/sources/1204
1. What is the husband complaining about in the cartoon?
A: The husband is complaining about not having a decent meal in months, the house
being filthy, and having no clean clothes.

2. What fear about the ERA is this cartoon appealing to? What will women become if an
amendment like this is passed?
A: The fear that this cartoon is appealing to is that women with more rights and
opportunities are going to abandon their "duties" in the household. If an amendment
like that is passed, women will become more independent.

Political Cartoon 2: National Women’s Party, 1923

https://www.mcny.org/lesson-plans/beyond-suffrage-equal-or-special-tracing-equal-rights-
amendment
1. How does this cartoon represent women? What is their primary role during this time?
A: This cartoon represents women as in my opinion, a house slave. Women's role
during this time was to cook, clean, and take care of their children.

2. What criticism of that role is the NWP trying to provide?

 A: The criticism that the NWP is trying to provide is that the women are only effective
and efficient at working in the house and nothing else.
Political Cartoon 3: ERA: Trojan Horse of Abominations
https://i0.wp.com/notchesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Frank-Figure-4.jpg?
fit=1578%2C802
1. What does the cartoonist mean when he calls the ERA a Trojan Horse?
A: What this cartoonist means by calling the ERA a "Trojan Horse" is basically saying
that like the story of the Trojan Horse, the ERA is a "large structure" or organization
filled with people who are trying to get into the laws or "city" and destroy it from the
inside.
2. What fear tactic is the cartoon utilizing? What will happen if the ERA is passed?
A: The fear tactic that this cartoon is utilizing is called fear-mongering or scare-
mongering. According to the cartoon, if the ERA is passed there would be a lot of
"abominations" like legalization of homophobic marriages, adoptions, abortion, and
state nurseries.
4. Further Research
https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/unequal-rights-amendment
This document is a pamphlet created by the National Committee to defeat the Un-Equal Rights
Amendment. Released in 1945, they charged that the ERA was “vague and legally unsound,”
“unnecessary,” and “dangerous.”

1. Who published this document?

A: The person who published this document's name is Margaret Austin Stone.

2. Explain why the publisher believes this document is “vague and legally unsound?”
A: The publisher believes that this document is “vague and legally unsound" because she
thinks that whatever the legal status in regard to the civil matters, are different for men and
women in state or federal legislation.She believes that a lot of confusion would happen as to
what standards to acquire, whether those for men or for women.

3. Why is it “unnecessary,” and “dangerous?”

A: The publisher believes that it is “unnecessary" and “dangerous" because she thinks that it
poses a problem, but it would actually destroy progress toward equal rights and would
weaken the foundations of family life.

5. Further Research
https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/rbg-equal-rights-amendment

This source was written by Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1971 in support of the Equal Rights
Amendment.

Why does Ginsburg believe this Amendment is necessary?

A: Ginsburg believes this Amendment is necessary because she believes that women deserve
to have the same opportunities and rights as men do.