Equal Rights for Women
Delivered in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 21, 1969, Chisholm delivered a fiery argument urging the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to eliminate gender discrimination in American society.
Full Transcript
Mr. Speaker, when a young woman graduates from college and applies for a job, she is asked ‘Can you type?’ That eating away at human dignity is something that men do not experience.
Prejudice against women in this country is subtle, pervasive, and institutionalized. As a Black person, I am no stranger to prejudice. But the truth is that in the political world I have been far oftener discriminated against because I was a woman than because I was Black.
Prejudice against Black people is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. But it is still acceptable to discriminate against women in hiring, promotion, and pay.
The Equal Rights Amendment is necessary because state laws limiting the types of work women can do are outdated, protective legislation that actually restricts women’s independence and earning power.
It is time we declare unequivocally that under the Constitution of the United States, rights shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.
Defining Key Excerpts
"Prejudice against women in this country is subtle, pervasive, and institutionalized."
"What we need are not new laws, but the constitutional declaration that discrimination on the basis of sex is forbidden."
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