Why We Should Still Be Talking About Women's Rights

Photo of marchers in New York City during the massive August 26, 1970 strike.

Last week I watched the American TV series Mrs. America about the women's movement in the 70's and I gotta tell you, it depressed me so much realising that so many of the conversations people were having about women and women's rights back in the 70s are the exact same conversations that are still taking place today in 2020. 

In the show they talked about The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which is designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. 

I know, I thought that was already in the constitution too, crazy right?! Anyway, it's not.

Now the first version of this proposed amendment was introduced in Congress in wait for it... 1923.

Nearly 100 years ago.

I want to make something clear - if you think that women and men are already guaranteed equal rights by the American Constitution, you're wrong! It currently does it BUT only for the right to vote. The proposed amendment is intended to remedy that and make it about all rights but it never got approved and it's a long story of why but the bottom line is WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!?

Now some argue that the E.R.A. is unnecessary because the 14th Amendment already guarantees everyone the “equal protection of the laws.” The Supreme Court has indeed read the 14th Amendment to ban many forms of sex discrimination. But the fact is that there are still gaps in existing laws, both at the federal and state level PLUS the undertone of all of it still is and not just in America that many women do not have equal rights no matter how beautifully you dress it.

Only six countries currently give women and men equal rights.

It's an improvement... from zero a decade ago, but the rate of progress means that women won't achieve full equality until 2073.

Now I get a lot of people arguing with me about this topic and I get it. As a white woman who lives in a western country and has been free to do what I want when I want, one can and should argue I have equal rights. But here is my argument: 

For one, I will not rest until every woman and girl has equal rights anywhere in the world and neither should you. 

There are girls TODAY in some parts of the world who are forced into child marriages, who are sold by their families, who are not allowed to leave their houses or drive a car let alone work or vote and they should not be left behind.

Secondly, apart from the well documented usual gaps in pay and representation in politics, the media, the boardrooms etc, the most fundamental gap comes from that basic belief that women are responsible for the home and the family because women are the ones who give birth. 

And until family and children are really considered as a shared responsibility between two people no matter what gender they have TOGETHER as a unit, women will not have true equal rights.

And here is the thing - as a working mom - sorry, even that term says it all, doesn't it? When has my husband Mike ever been referred to as a 'working dad' ha? 

Anyway, I have been asked so many times in my life by various people how I 'juggle it' all? How do I balance work life and family life?

A question no one man ever gets asked. And it's in that question where the truth is revealed - the expectation we all have from women is to stay solely in charge of the family and kids because that is our true job while the men, if we are lucky, help put but never ever bear the real responsibility.

And this is reflected in maternity and paternity laws. It's not a theory, it's facts. And it's why countries like Finland score so high in the equality test, because in Finland all mothers AND fathers both get nearly seven months paid leave sending a clear message: all parents, from all types of families, are equal in this benefits and responsibilities. 

And until that same approach is adopted EVERYWHERE women are never going to be truly equal.