The ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) was initially created with the intent to get women the right to vote. Written by Alice Paul the founder of the National Woman’s Party, the amendment has evolved into an amendment that ensures women are provided with all the rights they should have. The ratification of the ERA faced many deadlines and setbacks. Particularly in 1972 when the rise of anti feminism led to women like Phyllis Schlafy successfully attempting to instill fear in the American society about what the ERA would lead us to, like gender neutral bathrooms and women being drafted. Some women feared that the passing of ERA would negatively impact the legal work hours allowed and after tragedies such as the triangle shirtwaist factory had taken place where 146 of the deaths were mostly young women. Shamina described it in her response as “Women were not permitted to leave the factory or even take breaks, and because the doors were frequently locked to prevent this, many women were unable to evacuate once the fire broke out. The video focuses on the estimation of 500 workers, most were teen, young women.” Perhaps this was why Phyllis Schlafy’s anti feminist narratives had permeated the American people’s idea of what the ERA stood for and how it would impact American women. The Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment would positively benefit court cases that involve the abuse of women and the disregard of womens rights. It would provide more support for cases in which women have the right to sue, so in instances like workplace sexual harassment for example. The amendment would provide a foundation for these cases to stand on and aid arguments that claim there was discrimination ‘on the basis of sex’ as the article ‘Virginia just became the 38th state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.’ states. It would eliminate any potential laws that have the possibility of infringing upon women’s rights. In today’s current society it would help fight against and possibly eliminate the reproductive laws that prevent AFAB people from having control over their bodies, like with the Texas Abortion Ban. The ERA would also help with sex-based harassment. In my workplace, I’ve been harassed a few times and made uncomfortable by a few male coworkers. At the time because I was new, I thought the behavior was coming from a place of kindness being that I didn’t know much about the job. But after I started to understand the power dynamic, and why they thought it was okay to do things like this, I realized that it was in fact sexual harassment. If the ERA were passed, I’d feel more comfortable speaking up about sexual harassment and I wouldn’t feel as though I’d have to worry about being believed. It would make me feel like I have a chance at fighting back and that my concerns would be taken more seriously. However I know that my concerns would not be taken more seriously because of empathy but because of the fear of legal action.