6. Opposition to ERA

Question 1

opposition on 2 levels

rational

Answer 1

Women might find themselves liable for military service. Loose protection and rights. Most significantly for older women alimony threatened. More a measure for younger single women competing for jobs rather than older women or working class women who needed special protection in work place

Question 2

opposition on 2 levels

traditional values

Answer 2

Lifestyle common in suburban America. Need to be looked after by men. ‘Mom and apple pie’ values. Danger that women would not gain custody so easily of children in divorce cases, undermining widespread belief that children needed to be raised by mother and this was a sacred duty that could not be done by men

Question 3

Nixon’s ‘silent majority’

Answer 3

(term used by nixon in 1969 to describe mass of middle-class Americans who were conservative, opposed social change and did not join in the anti-war demonstrations)

Question 4

Divisions among women had been

Answer 4

one of the biggest barriers to change

Question 5

Daughter of the American Revolution

Answer 5

re-emerging. Led by articulate trenchant and determined leader

Question 6

Move towards conservatism led to victory of

Answer 6

Republican Ronald Reagen in 1980 = able to prevent Amendment being ratified

Question 7

Opinion polls showed less support for the ERA by the

Answer 7

1980s than when it was introduced in 1970s

Question 8

Through 1980s and 1990s activists tried hard to revive amendment.

Answer 8

By 1992 had not been successful

Powerful women had again had an affect on political developments but to oppose rather than promote change