What was the objective of the Equal Rights Amendment proposed in 1923?

The objective of the Equal Rights Amendment proposed in 1923 was to ensure equal legal rights for all citizens regardless of sex. The amendment aimed to address the systemic inequalities that women faced under the law by explicitly stating that rights should not be denied on the basis of sex. This was a significant advocacy point for the women's rights movement, as proponents sought to eliminate legal distinctions that disadvantaged women in various spheres, including marriage, employment, and property ownership.

This push for equal legal rights reflected a growing awareness in the early 20th century of the need for women to have the same protections and rights as their male counterparts. By placing equal rights in the Constitution, supporters aimed to create a legal foundation that would prevent any form of discrimination based on gender, further advancing the cause of women's equality in practice and principle.

In contrast, granting women the right to vote was achieved earlier with the 19th Amendment in 1920, and protecting women's employment rights, while a related concern, was not the specific focus of the Equal Rights Amendment. The abolition of the draft pertains to military service and does not relate to the equality of rights based on sex. Thus, the essence of the Equal Rights Amendment was to provide a foundational legal framework for gender equality.