US Equal Rights Amendment push faces challenges

Significance

The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure, especially as Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he does not support it. Even if the Senate were to follow the House, the ERA’s dubious, delayed ratification process would still raise serious constitutional issues.

Impacts

• The ERA would provide plaintiffs with additional means to enforce gender equality.
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi believes the ERA would ease ensuring women’s economic equality, such as equal pay for equal work.
• Conservatives will oppose the ERA, and emphasise concerns that the amendment has not been properly ratified.