Lea Watkins-Chow

May 4, 2015
Period 6 Green
Women should be afforded the legal protection of a minority group to promote equality. 40
years ago Susan Brownmiller, a feminist journalist, activist, and author, expressed her opinions on
womens equality in her book Against Our Will. Brownmiller argued that sexism has been deeply
engrained in the roots of our society. In her chapter Women Fight Back she describes how for
thousands of years women have been viewed as property of men. If a woman was raped, it was a
tragedy only because she was damaged goods that could not be handed off by her father to a suitor.
Brownmiller seemed to believe an overhaul of laws was necessary to rid society of the belief in
male rights of possession. Even today, many feminists would argue for improved laws that would
ensure protection of women as a minority group.
In recent history, one of the most significant efforts to gain equality for all genders was the
Equal Rights Amendment, or the ERA. The ERA proposed allowing congress to enforce the
equality to all regardless of sex. Brownmiller would likely have supported the ERA. Its passage,
while not eradicating all sexism in society, would have been a step in the right direction. Passing the
ERA would have acknowledged and brought attention to the issue of Feminism. The main force
apposing the ERA in the 1970s was Phyllis Schlafly, who believed it should not be passed because
there was no issue. Schlafly strongly opposed the ERA on the grounds that it teaches young women
that women are unfairly treated in our society and they need legislation and government and
taxpayers' money in order to get them a fair break. (Q&A Phyllis Schlafly at 84) Some people,
however, view Schlafly as a hypocrite. She supports women staying at home as the traditional house
wife and raising her husbands children, cooking cleaning, but she herself has a political career. In
an interview with her in 2009, Schlafly states that she has eight children and that her career and
motherhood each had their separate times. She argues that rather than being a hypocrite, she is a
perfect example of women being able to achieve success in whatever field they choose, without

Lea Watkins-Chow
May 4, 2015
Period 6 Green
help from the law. Many people disagree with Phyllis Schlaflys controversial views and are
continuing to work towards protection of women as a minority.
Hate speech laws should apply to pornography in the same ways they apply to any other
media. A balance of freedom of speech and protection of individual rights is important and
pornography produced by consenting adults could still be protected under free speech, however,
these laws should allow for prosecution in extreme cases in which pornography incites violence and
crime or clear and present danger. Although the majority of pornography portrays women as the
victim, it is important that hate speech laws protect and apply to all genders.
While the past 30 years have seen progress towards equality for women, sexism is still
prevalent. In America, women make only 78% of what men make (Race and Gender) and many
companies do not hire an even number of men and women. Everyday harassment women
experience, such as cat calls, also perpetuate sexism and lower the confidence and self esteem of a
woman while confirming men as dominant. In a home setting the division of domestic labor
remains unbalanced. Often the wife and mother works more on cooking and cleaning and running
the PTA and driving the kid to soccer practice every day, while the father works in the office and
comes home to supper on the table- much like 30 years ago. Although this is not exclusively how
homes work, gender roles in society are still prevalent. Feminists in the 70s and 80s fought for
women to have the choice of having a career, and yet today, many women are still stuck at home. As
a people we have not achieved equality.
While feminists continue to fight for equality, it is important to provide women with legal
protection of a minority. Brownmiller would be glad about the progress we have made on some
womens issues, however she would be discontent to see how similar laws on rape, pornography,
and equality laws are to those in her era. She would support the legal protection of women as a
minority group as another step towards equality.

Lea Watkins-Chow
May 4, 2015
Period 6 Green
Works Cited
Altonji, Joseph G., and Rebecca M. Blank. "Race and gender in the labor market." Handbook of
labor economics 3 (1999): 3143-3259.
Brownmiller, Susan. Against Our Will. N.p.: Martin Secker & Warburg, 1975. Print.
Francis, Roberta W. "The ERA: A Brief Introduction." The Equal Rights Amendment: Unfinished
Business for the Constitution. Alice Paul Institute, n.d. Web. 2 May 2015.
<http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/overview.htm>.
Sachs, Andrea. "Phyllis Schlafly at 84." TIME. Time, 7 Apr. 2009. Web. 2 May 2015.
<http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1889757,00.html>.
Schafly, Phyllis. "'Equal rights' for women: wrong then, wrong now." LA Times. Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2007. Web. 2 May 2015. <http://www.latimes.com/la-op-schafly8apr08-story.html>.
"A Short History of E.R.A." Eagle Forum. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2015.
<http://www.eagleforum.org/psr/1986/sept86/psrsep86.html>.