Women’s Rights Big Issue In U.S.

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32312, 2 June 1970, Page 2

Women’s Rights Big Issue In U.S.

WASHINGTON.

Women’s rights are a lively issue this year, which marks the fiftieth anniversary of women’s suffrage throughout the United States.

Hearings started this I month before a Senate comimittee on a proposed amendI ment to the Constitution 1 which would rule that “equality of rights under the Jaw ■shall not be denied orj abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” Similar amendments have been introduced in every Congressional session since 1923. but never' passed. There is more pressure this year for this amendment and for other corrective steps. The White House is aware of the feeling. A task force report on women’s rights and responsibilities is expected to be released soon. In spite of the continued rejection of the amendment in the last decade, the opportunities for achievement and contribution offered to American women have increased at an unparalleled rate. The Federal Congress, in this time, has passed into law a series of substantive acts affirming the rights of all Americans in many areas in which women are vitally concerned. Equal Pay Among the many examples are the Equal Pay Act, 1963; the Higher Education Facilities Act, 1963; the Civil Rights Act, 1964; the Social Security Act, 1965 (Medicare); the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ; 1965: and the Fair Labour I Standards Act Amendment, 11966.

A continuingly prosperous'; economy has increased earn-i ings, including the earnings I of women who have no choice I I but to enter the labour force. New, enlarged, and flexible provision for education and training in more and more communities and more and more sections of metropolitan areas has given opportunities to additional people, including many women whose responsibilities restrict their freedom of movement to the area where they live. Court cases, decided and pending, are moving towards clarification of ambiguities concerning the constitutional protection of women’s rights. Family planning is now part of a variety of health programmes. Colleagues

Perhaps the most telling of recent changes is one in the

general attitude toward women’s participation in the various aspects of American society. It is a change which includes the attitudes of men toward accepting women as colleagues and employees and the attitude of both toward the creation of a society whose aim is the well-being of people—not of men alone or women apart—a society of diverse talents, used to their fullest.

When Mrs Nixon’s staff director. Constance Stuart, was asked for Mrs Nixon’s views on the proposed Women’s Rights Amendment, she said: “Mrs Nixon supports the amendment. Her husband supports it, and she supports it Mrs Nixon does 'not believe in discrimination of any kind, whether it be on the basis of race, creed, colour, or sex.”

President Nixon sent a message of greeting to the League of Women Voters, which met recently in Washington. to whom he paid tribute for advancing not only the cause of women, but the well-being of all humanity. The league: which has not taken any position for or against the proposed equalrights amendments. was organised 50 years ago to educate women to use the vote they had just won. Its 160,000 women members carry on a non-partisan programme of study and work on issues.

In Politics The top two women officers of the Republican and'Democratic National Committees recently called a joint press conference to announce a plan to expand the role of women in American political life. They said they need to know the facts about women's attitudes toward participation in political activities and are jointly seeking funds I from a philanthropic founda- | tion to find out through a [national poll. A few days earlier, a womens group called N.O.W. (National Organisation for Women) announced plans for what the leaders hope will be “national women’s strike” on August 26, the day that Tennessee ratified the Woman’s Suffrage Amendment in 1920 and brought it into effect N.O.W, calls for the appointment of more women to top Government jobs, for a national daycare system for children, for legalised abortion, and for ending remaining discrimination in employment. A group recently and loosely formed but receiving much attention is known as the Women’s Liberation Movement. These women are mostly under 30. many of them veterans of what is called the “new Left.” Their aims are much the same as those of other toilers for women’s rights, but their approach is apt to be more

abrasive. They are more likely to seek confrontation than co-operation with men. The Citizen’s Advisory Council on the Status of Women endorsed the proposed Equal Rights Amendment at its meeting on February 6-7. 1970, adopting a recommendation of its project group on equal legal status for women. In its March. 1970. newsletter the council said:

“Adoption of the amendment would mean that women could no longer be required to meet higher standards than men in admission to state educational institutions. State laws could not require longer prison sentences for women than for men for the same offence or otherwise discriminate against women in the criminal law. Women could not be denied by state law the same right to choose jobs as men. The amendment could more accurately be called an equal rights and responsibilities amendment. “Often overlooked is the fact that it would result in some cases in greater equity for men in alimony and custody disputes. The amendment. would also equalise the responsibilities for jury service and military service. The opportunities for training and education through military service now available to many young men would become available to young women.”

An exhibit on "women in politics” was opened at the Smithsonian Institution recently in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the suffrage amendment, and as a welcome to the League of Women Voters’ fiftieth convention. ■— United States Information Services.