Janet Mary Riley Letter to Louisiana Legislators in Favor of the E.R.A., 1976

Janet Mary Riley Letter to Louisiana Legislators in Favor of the E.R.A., 1976

Riley, Janet Mary

Equal rights amendments

Women's rights

Equality

1976 correspondence between Janet Mary Riley and Louisiana legislators concerning her positive stance on the E.R.A.

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex; it seeks to end the legal distinctions between men and women in terms of divorce, property, employment, and other matters. It has never been ratified by the states and is not part of the United States Constitution.

Janet Mary Riley was originally against the Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.) out of a fear of “an extreme interpretation of E.R.A. to forbid any state of federal action recognizing sex differences.” As the amendment evolved and passed Congress in 1972, it became to Janet “the very symbol of equality of the sexes before the law” and she changed her mind in support of it.

Riley, Janet Mary

Box 26 Folder 3, Collection 33: Janet Mary Riley Papers

Loyola University (New Orleans, La.)

1976

Correspondence

Paper