The last group to be recognized - yet the majority in numbers. Why is that?

During the big push for this, I believe in the mid 70’s, it was represented as unnecessary because the constitution already expressed it. As we have seen since, some things need to be spelled out plainly before some people listen.
I worked for Ma Bell, and she believed in equal pay. I worked a traditionally woman’s job (operator), and worked with women in traditionally male job (lineman/splicer), and while there was discrimination by some coworkers, I never saw any by the company.

Our conservative friends insist there is no need for it.

They have coined a new term for women who stand up for their rights. Feminazi. It has become confrontational and impolite to call yourself a feminist. They even deny the wage gap and say it’s a lie. Having children or being of child bearing age is still a red flag to employers. Not that much has changed, really.

Simple answer: most politicians are men. And for some reason (yuch, yuck) men do not feel comfortable when women are equal.

Secondary reason: many women are wimps and do not want to take a stand for the ERA, because they would end up antagonizing men (see first answer).

Our best hope to pass this was in the mid-late 70s. Now, almost impossible.

Maybe we’re all just tired of the constant victimhood.

Then do something to help, wienee.

Women are a protected minority group. Basically, companies can’t discriminate based on gender already under the law. Are women paid less for the same job? I honestly have not fully researched it. Traditionally, “women jobs” tend to be paid less, but that is a completely different issue. Logically, there shouldn’t be a problem passing an equal pay law, if everyone agrees women should receive equal pay. I’ve always wondered if something else is being added on to the bill that it doesn’t get passed?

What I believe happens with many issue is that they are taken out of the workforce due to pregnancy, childbirth and child rearing, for a period of a few months to years, and that impacts their careers and their final average salary, which is what’s used for pension and social security calculations.

In many couples, child care falls mostly to the mom. When the child is sick, it’s often the mom that stays home to care for the child. Not all, of course, but many.

Some careers that have been traditionally men’s careers, like police and firefighting, are now hiring more women.

What a government can do to help with the gender gap. Give women a year of paid leave , after which they can then go back to their jobs while the child goes to well run and organised day care. Give parents paid sick leave to stay home and look after their sick kids or when they have to be taken to dentists or doctors.

@cazzie The parent might not have any problem losing pay to take care of their kids, the problem might be getting behind in work, or leaving work burden on their work colleagues that is unfair. It depends on the job. An ICU nurse missing from her shift is a big deal. Someone who sits behind a desk and can return calls a few hours later, or work to catch up at night, or the next day is different.

Countries that tend to have a lot of help for maternity leave usually have a big concern about negative population growth. I do think we, America, should have more protection for new parents in terms of holding the person’s position at work if they take an extended maternity leave, and also being more flexible for parents to be able to reasonably coordinate parenting and their job if they choose to continue working.

The US will continue to make it difficult for new moms most likely. People are loathe to put the burden onto business owners.