Perspectives: The Equal Rights Amendment

On the day Virginia officially voted to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment earlier this month, becoming the crucial 38th state to do so, I listened to a male colleague explain his opposition to what he deemed "feminist" messaging—specifically, a political campaign touting the fact that a woman was first to accomplish something in her field. A "feminist" angle, he argued, was anything but persuasive to a general audience.

"It's a turnoff," he said. "Just another woman looking for a handout."

A familiar flurry of rage spun in my chest. Why...

Enough women — and men — have chosen political ideology over protecting gender equality, and that’s shameful.

Last week, Virginia became the 38th state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment — which would be enough to finally ratify the amendment. But enough women and men have snubbed it for nearly five decades that now this milestone may already be legally DOA.

“In so many areas, we still have a long way to go,” Democratic Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan said.

No kidding.

McClellan, one of the ERA’s sponsors, was referring...