[net.women] Why didn't the ERA pass?

winkler@harvard.ARPA (Dan Winkler) (04/07/85)

Why didn't the ERA pass?  It's such a simple, unoffensive statement
that I'm surprised anyone would object to it.  And yet there was
sufficient opposition to defeat it.  

Surprisingly, a good deal of the opposition came from women.  There was
also opposition from the Mormon Church on religious grounds.  And I've
even heard of constitutional arguments against the ERA.

What was the motivation behind these sources of opposition?  What did
people fear would result from the ERA?  Was it unisex bathrooms?
Military service for women?  Homosexual marriage?  

Was the ERA just too vague in that people disagreed on what it would
mean?

Is the ERA dead now?

I'd appreciate hearing whatever relevant facts and opinions you have.

Dan. (winkler@harvard)