What was the primary goal of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) proposed by Alice Paul?

What was the primary goal of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) proposed by Alice Paul?

• A. Establishment of universal suffrage for all
• B. Guarantee equal rights for women under the law
• C. Promotion of family values in legislation
• D. Strengthening traditional gender roles in society

Answer: (B)

The primary goal of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), as proposed by Alice Paul and her fellow activists, was to guarantee equal rights for women under the law. Alice Paul believed that the U.S. Constitution should explicitly ensure that no discrimination on the basis of sex would occur, thus recognizing women's rights and legal equality in the same light as men’s rights. The amendment aimed to eliminate any legal distinctions that might undermine women's rights, thereby addressing issues such as employment, property rights, and marital laws that treated women as inferiors in society. The push for the ERA was part of the broader women's rights movement in the early 20th century, which sought to achieve not only suffrage but also comprehensive equality in all aspects of life. While universal suffrage was a significant concern within the women's rights movement, particularly in the early 20th century, the ERA was specifically focused on broader legal equality rather than just voting rights. Additionally, the ERA did not promote traditional gender roles or family values; instead, it sought to challenge and change the existing legal frameworks that upheld those roles. The emphasis was fundamentally on the principle of equal protection under the law for individuals of all genders.

The primary goal of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), as proposed by Alice Paul and her fellow activists, was to guarantee equal rights for women under the law. Alice Paul believed that the U.S. Constitution should explicitly ensure that no discrimination on the basis of sex would occur, thus recognizing women's rights and legal equality in the same light as men’s rights.

The amendment aimed to eliminate any legal distinctions that might undermine women's rights, thereby addressing issues such as employment, property rights, and marital laws that treated women as inferiors in society. The push for the ERA was part of the broader women's rights movement in the early 20th century, which sought to achieve not only suffrage but also comprehensive equality in all aspects of life.

While universal suffrage was a significant concern within the women's rights movement, particularly in the early 20th century, the ERA was specifically focused on broader legal equality rather than just voting rights. Additionally, the ERA did not promote traditional gender roles or family values; instead, it sought to challenge and change the existing legal frameworks that upheld those roles. The emphasis was fundamentally on the principle of equal protection under the law for individuals of all genders.