Episode 90 is part 2/2 of a conversation about the real history in the 2020n FX series MRS. AMERICA"and the story of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) with historian Marjorie J. Spruill. Part 2 explores the rise of Phyllis Schlafly's anti-ERA campaign, which gained traction by appealing to religious conservatives. Spruill highlights key figures like Bella Abzug, Glory Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, Betty Friedan, Jill Rukelshaus, Brenda Feigen-Fasteau, and Lottie Beth Hobbs, and the pivotal 1977 National Women's Conference in Houston. Marjorie J. Spruill also gives us an update on the current status of the ERA.
MRS. AMERICA tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash. Tthe series explores how one of the toughest battlegrounds in the culture wars of the 70s shifted the political landscape for generations.
Marjorie J. Spruill's 2017 book, “Divided We Stand: The Battle Over Women's Rights and Family Values That Polarized American Politics,” was a key resource for this 2020 FX series. Spruill is Distinguished Professor Emerita of History at the University of South Carolina. She specializes in United States history, particularly women's and gender history and the history of the American South. She gives frequent addresses on woman suffrage and modern feminism and anti-feminism, and serves as a consultant for documentaries and to the media. Majorie is currently chair of the Scholars Advisory Council of the National Women’s History Museum.
MRS. AMERICA is the 5th historical drama in the , a 10-part miniseries, REVOLUTION TO RIGHTS: AMERICA AT 250, featuring historical dramas that emphasize that freedom is not just a state-of-being, but continuous collective actions that shape the American identity and experience.
TIMESTAMPS
0;03 Introduction to REVOLUTION TO RIGHTS Podcast Series
7:06 Overview of MRS. AMERICA and Key Figures
14:45 Schlafly's Campaign and Anti-ERA Movement
22:23 Lottie Beth Hobbs and the Anti-ERA Movement
30:12 The National Women's Conference and Pro-Life Rally
38:30 Impact of the National Women's Conference
46:52 The Status of the ERA Today
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