De Hart-Mathews: Sex, Gender and the Politics of ERA

Sex, Gender and the Politics of ERA examines the complex battle over the Equal Rights Amendment in the United States from the 1920s through the 1980s. The book tracks both pro-ERA and anti-ERA activism across multiple decades. Authors Jane De Hart and Linda Kerber analyze key figures in the ERA fight, including Alice Paul, Phyllis Schlafly, and numerous other activists and politicians. They focus particularly on how views about gender roles and women's place in society shaped the intense debates around the amendment. The narrative covers major historical moments in the ERA campaign, from its first introduction in Congress through its ultimate failure to achieve ratification. The authors draw on extensive research including personal papers, organizational records, and media coverage from the period. This work provides insight into how American views on gender equality evolved through the 20th century, while exploring fundamental questions about constitutional rights, social change, and the intersection of public and private life in a democracy.

Readers found the book detailed in documenting the Equal Rights Amendment's history through a scholarly lens focused on sex and gender. Several reviewers pointed to De Hart and Mathews' balanced analysis of both pro-ERA and anti-ERA positions. Liked: - Clear timeline of events and key figures - Primary source documents and interviews - Analysis of state-level ERA battles - Examination of religious opposition Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Limited coverage of racial dimensions - Some repetitive sections - Need for updated post-2005 content One academic reviewer on JSTOR noted the "meticulous research but occasionally dry delivery." A Goodreads reviewer cited the book's strength in "connecting local grassroots movements to national politics." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating Google Books: 4/5 (3 ratings) Most used in academic settings rather than general readership.

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📚 Author Linda Kerber is a pioneering figure in women's history and served as the first woman president of the American Historical Association. 🗽 The book examines how the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), despite widespread support in the 1970s, fell just three states short of ratification by the 1982 deadline. ⚖️ The ERA was first introduced to Congress in 1923 by Alice Paul, who also helped secure women's right to vote through the 19th Amendment. 🗳️ The book reveals how Phyllis Schlafly, though herself a lawyer and working woman, successfully mobilized conservative opposition to the ERA by appealing to traditional homemakers. 📊 Despite its failure to be ratified, polling showed that a majority of Americans supported the ERA throughout the ratification period (1972-1982), with approval ratings consistently above 50%.