Question

it has been observed before, that society for a long time discriminated against another minority, the blacks, on the same basis - that they were different and inferior. as a black person i am no stranger to race prejudice. but the truth is that in the political world i have been far oftener discriminated against because i am a woman than because i am black.
let me note and try to refute two of the commonest arguments that are offered against this amendment. one is that women are already protected under the law and do not need legislation. existing laws are not adequate to secure equal rights for women. a second argument often heard against the equal rights amendment is that it would eliminate legislation that many states and the federal government have enacted giving special protection to women and that it would throw the marriage and divorce laws into chaos.
women need no protection that men do not need. what we need are laws to protect working people, to guarantee them fair pay, safe working conditions, protection against sickness and layoffs, and provision for dignified, comfortable retirement. men and women need these things equally
rep shirley chisholm speech introducing the equal rights amendment, congressional record, may 21, 1969
a. describe an action that congress can take in the context of the scenario.
b. in the context of this scenario, explain the effect of collective state action of a state in response to your answer to part a.
c. explain how the action taken by states in part b would impact ideals of american democracy.
a.

Explanation:

A. Congress could pass the Equal - Rights Amendment. This would be a legislative action to enshrine equal rights for women in federal law, addressing the discrimination mentioned.
B. If a state takes collective action in response to the passage of the Equal - Rights Amendment by Congress, it could either support or oppose it. If it supports, it could enforce the equal rights provisions within the state, promoting uniformity. If it opposes, it could create legal challenges and a patch - work of different rights standards across states.
C. If states oppose the equal rights measures (as in the case of collective state action against the amendment), it could undermine the ideals of American democracy such as equality and the rule of law. It could lead to a situation where some states are in non - compliance with federal equality standards, creating a two - tier system of rights and challenging the principle of a unified nation with equal rights for all. If states support it, it would uphold the democratic ideals of equality and justice for all citizens.

Answer:

A. Congress could pass the Equal - Rights Amendment.
B. State collective action could either enforce or challenge the equal rights provisions, affecting uniformity or creating legal disputes.
C. Opposition by states could undermine American democratic ideals of equality and the rule of law; support would uphold them.