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A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 26 February 2020
AP-NORC poll: Most Americans support Equal Rights Amendment

the country, though about
4 in 10 feel it wouldn't make
much of a difference and
about 1 in 10 say it would
be harmful. Nearly two-
thirds think its impact on
women would be positive;
about 2 in 10 feel it would
negatively affect men.
Even if added to the Con-
stitution, the ERA would
not on its own bar work-
place discrimination. Still,
the poll found that women
are more likely than men
to think the impact on the
country — and on them
personally — will be posi-
tive.
"We'd feel more equal,"
said Fraley, a Democrat,
who said she has experi-
enced employment dis-
crimination in the construc-
tion field. "Some men just
think that women can't do
what (we know) they can
do. So if a woman goes
In this Jan. 14, 2020, file photo, an Equal Rights Amendment supporters yell encouragement to two legislators as they walk down a and does their job, it's like
hallway inside the state Capitol in Richmond, Va.
Associated Press you're messing with their
ego."
By MARYCLAIRE DALE and shows that roughly 3 in 4 Some women's groups ar- than they did then, a view In terms of careers in poli-
JOCELYN NOVECK Americans support the gue that deadline should shared by about 7 in 10 tics, nearly 4 in 10 said they
Associated Press gender equality amend- not be seen as binding, Americans, according to think women have fewer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — ment, which is now back and while the Democrat- the poll. That compares opportunities than men,
LaVonne Hirashima had before Congress following controlled House will likely with about 2 in 10 who think while about as many say it's
two children by the time Virginia's ratification of the extend the deadline again, things are the same and a level playing field. About
she was 20 and no time measure in January. But the Republican-controlled roughly 1 in 10 who feel a quarter think women to-
to get a college degree. nearly the same amount, Senate may balk. Another women face more discrimi- day have more political
Instead, the single parent 72%, incorrectly believe legal obstacle: a move by nation today. opportunities.
doubled down at work and the Constitution now guar- five states in the 1970s to re- Still, Wiener hopes the ERA "I think if a lot of women and
built a stable career in in- antees men and women scind their initial ratification is finally adopted. minority women got out
formation technology, and equal rights under the law. of the amendment. "Sometimes, when things there and voted, we could
now works for a govern- "Wow, that's amazing," said The ERA also faces bitter are really written in stone, it have a woman president.
ment contractor. Demetria Fraley, a 33-year- opposition from conserva- makes people think a little Who would have thought
Still, Hirashima, 48, said she old mother of six in Raleigh, tive activists who see it as bit harder about doing cer- Barack Obama would be
lost out on promotions and North Carolina, when told endangering their stances tain things. It gives it more elected president?" said
pay raises because she's there is no such explicit on abortion and transgen- teeth," she said. Kathleen Wolfe, 73, of York,
not part of the boys club constitutional guarantee. der rights. However, while The poll shows nearly half Pennsylvania, whose work
in the male-dominated IT "I never knew that. ... I'm the poll did find a signifi- of Americans, 46%, share for the Mattel Co. includ-
world. Those experiences thinking, things are chang- cant partisan gap in views Hirashima's view that wom- ed interviewing consumers
shape her deep support for ing, but apparently they're of the ERA's adoption, ma- en have a tougher time about the company's icon-
the Equal Rights Amend- not." jorities across party lines getting high-paying jobs. ic Barbie dolls, the subject
ment, the change to the The ERA, which would stipu- are in support. Nearly 9 in Among those who dis- of frequent feminist attacks
U.S. Constitution proposed late that equal rights can- 10 Democrats, compared agree is Gerald Havens, of – and some praise — over
five decades ago to ban not be denied or curtailed with about 6 in 10 Republi- Springfield, Missouri, who the years.
discrimination on the basis on the basis of gender, is cans, say they are in favor. called the ERA "an out- Hirashima, a moderate
of sex. back in the headlines be- Frances Wiener, 70, said dated amendment." The Democrat, thought that
"I can express an idea or cause Virginia became the she was very involved with 56-year-old retired postal for sure Hillary Clinton
make suggestions, but it's 38th state to ratify it — sat- the ERA campaign when service employee believes would win the 2016 presi-
still not taken (seriously)," isfying the requirement that it first started out. "I still the women in his family — dential election. Then she
said Hirashima, of Albu- three-quarters of states ap- have my bracelet, one of including his wife, a daugh- heard someone on TV say
querque, New Mexico, who prove it following Congress' those metal bracelets that ter in banking, and his sister he would never vote for a
is now married with three passage of the measure in says 'ERA,'" said Wiener, of and niece — have earned woman — and sensed the
sons. "As more women 1972. Brooklyn, New York, who the same as men in their race was over.
come into management I However, legal hurdles pursued a science career fields. "I think society has "Other countries have a fe-
think it will change, but it's could yet keep the ERA after graduating from col- moved on from when it was male leader and are suc-
hard. It's hard to change from becoming the 28th lege 50 years ago, working introduced in the 1970s," cessful," she said. "I don't
that culture." amendment. Congress ini- in hospital laboratories, and said Havens, a Republican. see why we can't be that
A new poll from The Asso- tially required the states chose not to have a family. About half of Americans forward thinking, but I don't
ciated Press-NORC Center ratify it by 1977, a deadline She believes women face think ratifying the ERA would think our country as a whole
for Public Affairs Research they later extended to 1982. less discrimination now have a positive impact on is ready for that."q