Women’s suffrage was just one small step toward women’s equality in this country. Despite being more than 51% of the population, American women do not have the same protection as men under the law, leaving them vulnerable to unfair policies and legislation. Author Patricia Nugent will trace the history of the national ERA effort, discuss the NYS version, and offer suggestions for removing barriers for future generations.
Since 1923, an Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution has been proposed to rectify such inequality but continues to be blocked by opponents in and out of Congress. New York State voters will have the opportunity to vote on a state-level amendment in 2024.
For many decades, Patricia Nugent has been a student of women’s struggle for equal rights, feeling a deep personal connection to those who opened up opportunities for her and other women. She is the author of the play “The Stone that Started the Ripple” about a modern-day reunion of the founding suffragists, and editor of the nonfiction anthology “Before They Were Our Mothers: Voices of Women Born Before Rosie Started Riveting.” She is also a collector of political memorabilia. An unabashed feminist, her mission to secure the suffragists’ rightful place in American history compels her to write and present about their courage and determination to be silent no more, and to encourage others to join the battle that has been waged since the inception of our nation. Her blog can be found at www.journalartspress.com.