the Equal Rights Amendment
/ði ˌiːkwəl ˈraɪts əmendmənt/
/ði ˌiːkwəl ˈraɪts əmendmənt/
(abbreviation the ERA)
- a proposal for an amendment to the US Constitution which would give women equal rights with men. The proposal began in Congress in 1923 and was finally passed in 1972. A total of 38 of the 50 states had to give their approval by 1982 for it to become law, but only 35 did, so it failed. Since then, the states of Nevada and Illinois have given their approval of the amendment.