Patricia Ireland

National Organization for Women president Patricia Ireland claims in the following viewpoint that the equal rights amendment (ERA)—introduced in 1923 by suffragist leader Alice Paul—is an essential part of the effort to secure equality for American women. According to Ireland, historical Supreme Court rulings on women’s rights, many of which attempted to “protect” women from making too much money, demonstrates the need for the ERA. A constitutional guarantee of women’s equality would ensure that the progress made on women’s rights will not be overturned. Ireland is the author of What Women Want.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How has the constitution excluded women, as explained by Ireland?
2. What examples does the author offer of the...