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Show Signpost Jan. 25, 1974 Page 4 Passage of ERA will mean more equability for women by Bonnie Cantwell Editor-in-Chief Montana has become the 32nd state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment -- the amendment now only lacks six states' approval before it becomes part of the United States Constitution. Equality, some women would say, is getting closer. But the opposition would say women stand to lose everything. When the United States Congress passed the amendment in 1972, it was not even considered a hot issue. The amendment had been sitting in the capitol since 1923 when it was first proposed. Over the 49 years between the time it was proposed and the time it was passed by Congress, the issue came up occasionally and was defeated. Many people thought women's rights had finally come of age when Congress finally passed it. Even the first 20 states to ratify the con-sitution did so with relative ease and speed. It looked like the amendment was well on its way to becoming law. But then a well-organized opposition came into play. Several groups are opposed to the ERA, among them the John Birch Society, Klu Klux Klan, Billy Jean Hargis Christian Crusade, the AFL-CIO and some religious groups. But besides these groups there are several which were organized primarily for the purpose of stopping the ERA. Among these are Happiness of Women (HOW), League of Housewives and Scratch Women's Lib. 'Stop ERA' But perhaps the best organized and the most instrumental in getting the opposition together is the group called Stop ERA. This lobby group was founded by Phyllis Schlafly, who claims the proposed amendment will only hurt women. She claims that the ERA if passed would abolish legal safeguards that have established and protected woman's place in the home, abolish requirements that men support their families, do away with social security benefits which widows receive from their husbands' jobs and would alimony abolish and child support for divorced women. Her efforts have been so effective that some states which ratified the amendment last year are bringing it up for reconsideration this year. Any state which defeats the amendment may bring it up for reconsideration later and pass it. But the experts are still not decided whether a state that has ratified the ERA can turn around and un-ratify it. Some of the opposing groups have brought an emotional response from the women. In one high school a group of girls who, after being led to believe that the ERA would make it illegal to have separate restrooms for men and women, staged a sit-in in front of the mens restrooms in the school. Bullets to representatives Last year a group of women, protesting the ERA, each sent their congressmen a bullet, symbolizing the fact that women would have to go into combat if the amendment passed. Though some of these claims may or may not be true, what is true is that women must be willing to accept responsibility with their rights. In the world today, women are taking on more and more of the rights, they must therefore be prepared to take on more and more responsibility. Let's look at what the experts have to say about the changes inevitable if the ERA passes. Perhaps the greatest concern is over how the amendment will effect the family and the home. For one thing, dual marriage requirement ages will have to be abolished. The legal age which a person may marry without the permission of his parents will be the same age for both women and men. Legal residence Another change will be in where a woman's legal residence is. Presently a woman's legal residence is that of her husband. When she is not living at the same place, that is separation and grounds for divorce. If ERA passes, women probably will be able to choose her own home, however separation may still be grounds for divorce. Children's legal residence, which is not with their fathers, will probably become the home at which they spend the most time. Alimony laws will be changed. Both men and women will be eligible to receive alimony. Custody of the child will be based on which parent is most capable of caring for him. Laws in some states which give the mother preference in custody of the child, will have to be stricken from the books. Laws which force a man to support his family will have to be more equitable. Instead of doing away with male responsibility for the family, the law will make the woman responsible also. A woman who deserts her family will be just as liable as the deserting husband is now. Draft eligibility As for the draft - yes, women will be subject to the draft; that includes registering and participating in the lottery and being classified. There is some debate as to whether women will have to go into combat. Presently there are laws which prohibit women from combat zones these will have to be done away with. Probably women will be judged like men; according to their physical abilities. Some statistics state that only 14 percent of those men drafted during the Vietnam War actually served in combat zones. There are also fringe benefits that married women in the armed services will have to receive just like men, for instance allowances for dependants and housing, benefits they- don't receive now. In the world of business there will be quicker promotion and equal pay. Jobs such as driving heavy trucks, mining and tending bar, which have previously been closed to women, will now be available to them. Women's special benefits will be ended or extended to men also. This arrangement could well bring about something unions have wanted for years - the right to turn down overtime without fear of being fired. In education the amendment would end sexually divided schools. Admissions standards will have to be the same for both men and women. Trade schools will be opened up to women as will athletics. They will be open to whoever is qualified. Affected actions A woman should keep in mind as she considers the ERA that the amendment will only affect those actions in which the federal or state government are involved. Also, certain differentation will still exist. Laws forbidding rape are not going to be repealed, as some women have suggested, because these laws are based on traits which are unique to one sex. The amendment may also make rape laws more equitable. For instance, rape is the only form of assault in some states which requires the testimony of one witness besides the victim to establish that the crime actually took place. In all other kinds of assault, the word of the victim is enough to prove the crime took place. Women will not be able to get jobs which require them to lift more than they are able. Men will not be forced to do part of a woman's job because the administration had to hire a woman and yet she wasn't physically able to perform her work. Right to privacy Rights to privacy will not be stricken down. There will be no co-ed locker rooms or restrooms. Yes, women will lose some of their special privileges. But as any group or individual receives rights, they must accept responsibility. As children become adults they not only gain the right to direct their own lives, they receive with that the responsibility of a full member of society. So it must be with women. Finally, some women who oppose the amendment are prone to statements such as, "Well I like having doors opened for me," or "I don't want to be equal to men, I've already got more rights." The fact is personal arrangements will be up to individuals. No one can legislate courtesy or customs. But the ERA will allow women to choose their own careers without having to receive lower pay. They will be able to get credit; they will be able to get any job for which they are qualified. Women can look forward to equal opportunity and status as a citizen of the United States - a status which is long overdue. I WONDERED WHY HE INSISTED ON DRIVING THE CAD POOL TODAY A ) WORK... AND WORK TTT) (W Y?c) -WAistsEisTn"- Letters to the editor Letter policy: AH letters to the editor must be typewritten on a 60-space line and must not exceed 250 words in order to be considered for publication. All letters must be signed, however, the writer's name will be withheld if he can show reason why it should not appear in the newspaper. State car preference Dear Editor, On Tuesday, Jan. 15, 1974, 1 was driving through the parking lot immediately west of the cosmotology building futilely looking for an empty space, when I noticed four state vehicles parked in student spaces. This probably wouldn't have upset me save that there were eight or nine empty spaces immediately across the roadway in a section marked "State Cars Only." This struck me as a bit unfair . because if I'd had the audacity to park where they should have been, a citation would have been imminent. Although nothing will be done to right this daily occurrence, I felt that I had to make this known to all who might be offended in the future. Dale M.Webb Scholarships Dear Editor, Annually it has been difficult to communicate with the student body concerning scholarship deadline dates, but it appears even worse this year. There are 24 signs placed around the campus, and the Signpost has graciously printed notices concerning the deadline of Feb. 1 for applying for scholarships. To date it appears that many- have still not been made aware of this date, and in order to make it possible for all to have an opportunity , an extension to Feb. 7 has been made for Weber State students only. Will you please print this in your Letters to the Editor section because more students will see it there. William D. Van Dyke Director of Financial Aid r----Fr- .M. .... , , ., ., Published twice weekly by the Associated Students of Weber State College during fall, winter and spring quarters. Entered as second class mail at the Ogden, Utah Post Office. Mailing address: Weber State College, 3750 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, Utah 84403. The opinions expressed on the editorial page of the SIGNPOST do not necessarily represent those of the studentbody or theadministration. Bonnie Cantwell Editor-in-Chief Wil Grey Managing Editor Dave Jones Business Manager Dave Midget Wire and News Editor Ira D. Hatch News Editor Debra Malan Features Editor Fred Barta Photo Editor Randy Hollis Sports Editor Memberships: United Press International, Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, Associate Member Utah Press Association |
