Part II: 19th Amendment Centennial 4,000 years and counting

To put the suffrage movement in perspective, a brief review of the historical discrimination of half the world’s population is helpful.

Ironically, we begin with the areas of the world known as the “Cradles of Civilization.”

The Hebrew Tribe of Levi was the first to record laws subjugating women, approximately 4,000 years ago. Before then women were in equal or elevated positions as doctors, rulers, legislators, business leaders traders and economists.

2,000 years later the new Christian religion accepted the old Hebrew testament texts and incorporated women’s lessened status, as did Mohammed another 600 years later. The three most dominant religions in the “civilized” world: Muslim, Christian and Jewish, held a common theological thread – “the superiority of man.” With few exceptions the rules made by men, in most countries, kept women in an inferior state legally, educationally and socially for 1,500 to 4,000 years.

Beginning with the industrial revolution, another revolution began within the internal clocks of many women. At first slowly and timidly, then gathering momentum with succeeding generations, pushing for what was going to incorrectly be labeled “Women’s Rights.” Incorrect, because they are “universal” human rights.

Every generation has their battle to wage. My grandmother’s was the 19th amendment. (See part I, August 2019, for 19th Amendment history – ed.).

My generation’s battle was to pass the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment); so far we have failed. This was first drafted in 1923 by Alice Paul and introduced in several congresses. It was re-drafted in 1948. It finally gained momentum and passed congress in 1972 but failed to get the ratification of 38 states. It has never made it out of committee since then.

Note: the Virginia legislature recently passed ERA, which they failed to do 48 years ago. Hold the applause. 1923 – 2020 = 97 years. The longest any amendment has ever languished in our processes.

It is hard for me to accept that while it is constitutionally illegal to discriminate on the basis of religion, race or age, it is constitutionally legal to discriminate on the basis of sex, which affects 53% of our population.

I think 4,000 years is enough!

I think 97 years is enough!

Still counting ...

Jan Henrie

La Conner