The Equal Rights Amendment
The National Women’s Party attempted to consolidate reforms by appealing for an Equal Rights Amendment.
This would confirm the move towards the equality implied, but not achieved in 1920.
However, this divided opinion within women’s groups.
- There was fear that equal rights would remove some of the protection women had already gained, e.g. on working hours.
Working Hours:
- A decision by the Supreme Court in 1908- Muller v. Oregon. Declared that the state regulation was legal as because of their ‘child-bearing nature and social role’ it was in the interests of the state to reduce their working hours.
- By 1920, over 75% of states had passed regulations restricting women’s hours of work.