Florida Voter

The Equal Rights Amendment

Section 1.

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Section 2.

The Congress shall have the power to enforce by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3.

This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

30 State Legislatures have voted in favor of the ERA 38 are needed for it to become the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Bills for approval of the Equal Rights Amendment by the Florida Legislature have been prefiled for the April, 1974 session. ERA has been assigned to the Rules and Calendar Committee in the Senate and the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives.

DECEMBER 1973 - E.R.A. ISSUE LEAGUE FO WOMEN VOTERS OF FLORIDA

WHAT THE E.R.A. WILL DO

THE ERA SIMPLY PROVIDES THAT SEX WILL NOT BE A FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF MEN AND WOMEN. IT WILL AFFECT ONLY GOVERNMENTAL ACTION; LAWS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND PRACTICES OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

THE E.R.A. WILL REQUIRE THAT MEN AND WOMEN BE TREATED BY THE LAW AS INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS. IT WILL NOT AFFECT PRIVATE FAMILY OR SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

5 REASONS TO SUPPORT THE E.R.A.

UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS WASTEFUL

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, OUR NATION NEEDS THE SERVIES, TALENTS AND SPECIAL ABILITIES OF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, ERA EMPHASIZES THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EACH INDIVIDUAL.

WE NEED PERMANENT RIGHTS

ALTHOUGH FLORIDA HAS SOME LAWS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THESE LAWS WON'T BE REPEALED, ONLY THORUGH AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION WILL WOMEN BE PROTECTED AGAINST DISCRIMINATION PERMANENTLY, DON'T FORGET: THE 19TH AMENDMENT WAS NEEDED TO SECURE WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE.

WOMEN WON'T LOSE ANY "PROTECTIONS"

ANY PROTECTION SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE, FOR EXAMPLE: LAWS PROTECTING WOMEN FROM RAPE SHOULD PROTECT YOUNG BOYS AS WELL. UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OTHER SO-CALLED "PROTECTIVE" LAWS JUST KEEP WOMEN OUT OF JOBS THAT OFFER HIGHER PAY & ADVANCEMENT.

E.R.A. WILL GIVE NEW DIGNITY TO THE FAMILY

NO WOMAN WILL BE FORCED TO WORK BUT EACH WOMAN MAY CHOOSE TO BE A HOUSEWIFE OR A CAREER WOMAN OR BOTH, THE HOUSEWIFE WILL BE SUPPORTED BY HER HUSBAND FOR THE SAME REASON AS NOW- BECAUSE HE LOVES HER. BUT IF A WOMAN CHOOSES A CAREER OR IS OBLIGED TO WORK BY THE LOSS OF HER HUSBAND, AT LEAST SHE WILL BE GUARANTEED EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.

AMERICANS BELIEVE IN FAIR PLAY

JOB DISCRIMINATION IN FLORIDA

Employment and salary figures from the 1970 Census show the extent of job discrimination in Florida. 40% of Florida's work force is female, and they are heavily concentrated in low-status, low paying jobs. About one-third of all employed women in Florida are working in clerical positions. About 22% are service workers (beautificians, waitresses, attendants) or domestics. only 13% are professional & technical workers such as teachers, nurses, technicians, physicians, & lawyers. (Source: General Social and Economic Characteristics)

For women who work full-time & are employed year round, the median annual income in Florida in 1969 was $4270, or 56% of the $7461 average for men.

A woman with four years of college education makes about as little as a man with a grade school education makes about as little as a man with a grade school education ($4727 and $4257, respectively). Eleven percent of all families in Florida (over 200,000) have a woman head of household and earn an average annual income of $5642, compared to $10,550 for families with men. (Source: Detailed Characteristics, Fla.)

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

The situation for women who are employed by state and local agencies in Florida does not look any brighter. Of the 66,247 State. Career Service employees, roughly 51% are men and 49% are women. In the lowest pay grades (up to 44573 annually), 64% of the employees are women. Next (to $14,700), 26% are women. The highest levels, 6% female (and none of these is black). (Source: Florida Commission on Human Relations, State of Florida Career Service Employees. June 30, '72)

FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS

TAMPA

The employment situation in Tampa is similar to the state as a whole. "Height and weight requirements are used in an arbitrary and inconsistent fashion", Article IX, Section 1, of the Civil Service Rules reads: "Certification shall be made without regard to sex unless specified by the department head..." (Draft of Cityof Tampa Employment Study, Oct. 8, 1973)

FT. PIERCE - ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Persons are employed in a way that "indicates there is a patterna and practic of racial and sex discrimination." (Racial Conditions in Ft. Pierce, Fla.", dec. 28, 1972, pp. 4, 17)

Among Fort Pierce's employees, white men were 48% of the city's work force and earned $627 monthly average; white women, 17% - $508; black men, 31% - $485; black women; 3% - $451. In St. Lucie county white men earned $666; white eomen; $449; black men, $417; black women; $400. (Selected Facts on Discrimination in Florida Based on Studies Completed or in Progress, "Feb. 23, 1973)

Tampa and Fort Pierce are considered fairly typical Florida cities. It is obvious that current employment practices by government agencies are discriminatory. Existing laws and commissions are inadequate to deal with public bodies. Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment is necessary to bring the legal and moral force needed to guarantee equality or opportunity to women especially employed by state and local governments.

Vol. XXII December 1973 No. 8

Published monthly except Jul. and January by the League fo Women Voters of Florida, 324 Datura St., West Palm Beach, Fla., Eleanor Weinstock, Pres. and Editor. Second Class postage paid at West Palm Beach, Fla. 33401. Subscription fee $2.00 per year - .20 per issue.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

WHY AREN'T PRESENT LAWS ENOUGH?

The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently refused to rule that sex discrimination is covered under existing constitutional provisions. "And", according to Attorney General Robert L. Shevin, "if the 14th Amendment is enough, why did we need the 19th, 50 years after the 14th was put in the consitution, to give women the right to vote? "The individual challenging a discriminatory law has the burden of proof to show that the law is unreasonable. In the Frontiero decision of May, 1973, several members of the Court refused to define sex as a "suspect" classification (in the same way race is) because the ERA, which would do just that, is now before the states for ratification!

HOW WILL THE ERA AFFECT WOMEN'S RIGHT TO DOWER?

In Florida Dower will not be affected. The 1983 Legislature amended dower to provide for equal reciprocal rights for either surviving spouse.

Before the law was amended, if a widow was not satisfied with the portion of her husband's estate which she was willed, then she could elect to tak dower. Dower is one third of the real and personal property owned by her husband at his death. The change in the law allows a husband in the same right in a deceased wife's estate.

HOW WILL THE ERA AFFECT SOCIAL SECURITY LAWS?

"The Equal Rights Amendment would not permit men and women to be treated differently under social security."

"The turht is that the social security system long has discriminated agains the married working woman, & husband. A married woman pays social security taxes in exactly the same percent of the base that any male worker pays but receives a far less return in terms of benefit protection for herself and her family than the male worker and his family. When a wife dies or retires, only a husband who has supplied less than half of the family's income may draw on his wife's social secirty. But any wife, even independtly wealthy, may draw on her husband's social security. When a wife dies leaving young children, the children are able to draw on her social security account, but the husband can draw nothing. Yet, if a husband dies, both the widow and children draw."

"The Equal Rights Amendment is aimed at eliminating sex discrimination, particularly in our pension systmes, is more than discrimination against the woman. It is discrimination agains the family. Without question, we all stand to gain by eliminating this type of injustice and unfairness in our laws."

Congresswoman Martha Griffiths, Michigan

WILL ERA REQUIRE WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY?

Since there is no draft, the ERA will guarantee that women be allowed to volunteer for military service under the same standards as set for men.

If there is another draft, men and women who meet the specific requirements and who are not exampt or deferred would be subject. Congress would retain the power to create exemptions and deferments which would apply equally to men and women. In the past, fathers have been deferred; all parents or parents with small children could be exempt.

Men and women would be assigned to various duties on the basis on their qualifications, what they are fitted to do. Even in all male army combat duty has a relatively low involvement. The 1971 draft call reveals that less than 25% of all men of draft age were ever subjected to the draft in the first place, because of rejections and deferments. Only 5% of the eligible males in the country were actually inducted into the service that year. Less than 1% of eleigible males in the country were assigned to combat unites and only a fraction of those were assigned to the front lines. (congressional Record, March 21, 1972, pp. S. 4389-4391) Even in combat zones many logistic and support jobs are not much different than work done in non-combat areas. In the Second World War and during the Vietnam conflict many women nurseres working in combat zones and receiving combat pay.

Young women, who would themselves be most affected by a draft, are willing to accept the responsibilities of military service. The Intercollegiate Association of Women Students, with a membership of about a quarter of a million young women, passed a resolution in March, 1971, that: given whatever Selective Service System is prevailing, they would support equal responsibilities for men and women.

DO WOMEN WANT TO CHANGE THEIR STATUS IN SOCIETY?

According to the 1972 Virginia Slims American Women Opinion Poll, conducted by Louis Harris and Associates, "A swing in attitude - and a dramatic one- is taking place among women in america today. When asked in 1971 whether they favor or oppose most of the efforts to strengthen and change women's status in society today, woemn were almost equally divided (42% for to 40% opposed). Only a year later, American women are voicing their approvial of such efforts by a substantial 48% to 36%."

"Significantly, men are expressing even greater enthusiasm than women for efforts to strengthen (49% to 36%) or change women's status in society."

Also, the survey shows that the great majority of black women (62% for versus 22% opposed) favor such efforts.

State Equal Rights Amendment Committee -

Mary Anne Sherman, Chairperson; Polly doughty; Grace Hodgson; Sherry Newman; Susan Predaho; Elise Webb.