The political struggle to get the Equal Rights Amendment added to the U.S. Constitution awakened millions of people to the plight of American women, Ms. Luci Malin told more than 60 people attending the July meeting of the Humanists of Utah. Ms. Malin related her coming to Utah 18 years ago to organize support in the Beehive state for the ERA. The efforts of the National Organization of Women to get two-thirds of the state legislatures to approve the proposal failed but the campaign succeeded in educating millions of citizens to the lower salaries paid women, the limited career opportunities they have, and the glass ceiling that keeps them from high-level corporate executive positions.

The ERA campaign encouraged women and men to join the feminist movement, which has opened doors of opportunity for women in medical schools, colleges of law, science, and engineering. Today more women are willing to get involved in party politics and to run for elective offices. Malin cited examples of women being more empowered now than they were 20 years ago but said that there is much more to be done to create a genuine culture of gender equality, a culture where every person has the opportunity to fulfill his or her individual potential.

The former president of NOW said eventual passage of ERA remains a primary goal of the organization. Other NOW goals are improved abortion laws, better access to reproductive health care, more child care facilities, and effective affirmative action laws that will equalize opportunities for women of all races.

Malin said the feminist movement has in some areas been more effective in generating cultural changes than it has in causing political and legal changes. An increasing number of women are expressing their opinions on public issues, more women are visible in professional sports, and a higher percentage of the work force are women. She says the feminist movement has stimulated a positive change toward equality and urged both men and women to keep the momentum going.

--Flo Wineriter