Study: Most Americans Support Equal Rights Amendment
2020-02-28
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1A new public opinion study says that 73 percent of Americans support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees equal rights regardless of sex.
2The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released the results of the study Monday.
3It comes not long after the state of Virginia's legislature unexpectedly passed the Equal Rights Amendment, known as the ERA for short, in January.
4The ERA says that equal rights cannot be denied or decreased because of gender.
5When Virginia passed the amendment, it became the 38th state to do so.
6The approval meant that three-fourths of states had approved the amendment - the amount required by the Constitution.
7The U.S. Congress passed the measure in 1972.
8However, Congress set a 1977 deadline for the amendment.
9Later, it was extended to 1982.
10Of the 38 states needed, 35 had approved the change in the early 1970s.
11Three states approved it in the 21st century - long after the deadline had passed.
12Also, five states have cancelled their approval of the measure.
13The new poll did find that there is a difference between Democratic Party and Republican Party support for the measure.
14But, majorities of both parties support it.
15Nearly nine out of 10 Democrats and about six out of 10 Republicans, said they supported the measure.
16LaVonne Hirashima had two children by the time she was 20 and was not able to go to a university.
17She worked hard and built a career in information technology, an industry that is mostly male.
18She works for the United States government.
19Hirashima believes she did not receive better jobs or higher pay because she is not a man.
20The experience led to her strong support for the ratification of ERA.
21"I can express an idea or make suggestions, but it's still not taken (seriously)," said Hirashima.
22She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
23"As more women come into management I think it will change, but it's hard. It's hard to change that culture."
24The Associated Press-NORC said that 46 percent of Americans agree with the belief that women have more difficulty than men getting high-paying jobs.
25Gerald Havens disagreed.
26The retired civil service employee said the amendment is no longer needed.
27He said his wife, daughter, his sister and other women in his family, earn just as much money as men.
28"I think society has moved on from when it was introduced in the 1970s," said Havens, a Republican.
29The study said about 50 percent of Americans think ratifying the ERA would improve the country, while 40 percent think it would not change very much.
30About 10 percent say it would hurt the country.
31Frances Wiener, 70, said she was very involved with the ERA campaign when it first began.
32She is a 70-year-old scientist who lives in New York City.
33She chose to work in laboratories all her life.
34She does not have a family.
35She believes women face less discrimination now than they did 50 years ago.
36The study said that 70 percent of Americans agree with that idea.
37Still, Wiener hopes the ERA will finally pass.
38"Sometimes, when things are written in stone, it makes people think a little bit harder about doing certain things," she said.
39I'm Susan Shand.
1A new public opinion study says that 73 percent of Americans support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees equal rights regardless of sex. 2The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released the results of the study Monday. It comes not long after the state of Virginia's legislature unexpectedly passed the Equal Rights Amendment, known as the ERA for short, in January. 3The ERA says that equal rights cannot be denied or decreased because of gender. When Virginia passed the amendment, it became the 38th state to do so. The approval meant that three-fourths of states had approved the amendment - the amount required by the Constitution. The U.S. Congress passed the measure in 1972. 4However, Congress set a 1977 deadline for the amendment. Later, it was extended to 1982. Of the 38 states needed, 35 had approved the change in the early 1970s. Three states approved it in the 21st century - long after the deadline had passed. 5Also, five states have cancelled their approval of the measure. 6The new poll did find that there is a difference between Democratic Party and Republican Party support for the measure. But, majorities of both parties support it. Nearly nine out of 10 Democrats and about six out of 10 Republicans, said they supported the measure. 7Personal stories 8LaVonne Hirashima had two children by the time she was 20 and was not able to go to a university. She worked hard and built a career in information technology, an industry that is mostly male. She works for the United States government. 9Hirashima believes she did not receive better jobs or higher pay because she is not a man. The experience led to her strong support for the ratification of ERA. 10"I can express an idea or make suggestions, but it's still not taken (seriously)," said Hirashima. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "As more women come into management I think it will change, but it's hard. It's hard to change that culture." 11The Associated Press-NORC said that 46 percent of Americans agree with the belief that women have more difficulty than men getting high-paying jobs. 12Gerald Havens disagreed. The retired civil service employee said the amendment is no longer needed. He said his wife, daughter, his sister and other women in his family, earn just as much money as men. 13"I think society has moved on from when it was introduced in the 1970s," said Havens, a Republican. 14The study said about 50 percent of Americans think ratifying the ERA would improve the country, while 40 percent think it would not change very much. About 10 percent say it would hurt the country. 15Frances Wiener, 70, said she was very involved with the ERA campaign when it first began. She is a 70-year-old scientist who lives in New York City. She chose to work in laboratories all her life. She does not have a family. 16She believes women face less discrimination now than they did 50 years ago. The study said that 70 percent of Americans agree with that idea. 17Still, Wiener hopes the ERA will finally pass. 18"Sometimes, when things are written in stone, it makes people think a little bit harder about doing certain things," she said. 19I'm Susan Shand. 20The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 21Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. 22_______________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24regardless - adv. without being stopped by difficulty, trouble, etc. 25ratification - n. approval 26gender - n. male or female 27deadline - n. a date or time when something must be finished 28century - n. one hundred years