Women's Rights Movement
Project: Debating the Equal Rights Amendment
Purpose
After engaging in a debate, evaluate your participation as a listener and speaker through a written
response.
Summary
In this assignment, you will work with your class, a partner, or a teacher to debate whether an equal rights
amendment to the Constitution is necessary to secure equal rights for women.You will choose roles,
prepare for the debate, and conduct a debate.
Debate Resolution
An equal rights amendment is necessary because women are not specifically protected by the laws of the
Constitution.
In the debate, one side, the affirmative, will argue in favor of the resolution, and the other side, the
negative, will argue against the resolution.
As a listener in the debate, I actively listened to both sides of the argument and paid attention to the points and evidence presented. I took notes to ensure that I understood the main arguments and counterarguments.
There were several strong points made by the affirmative side. They argued that women are not specifically protected by the laws of the Constitution, which puts them at a disadvantage in terms of equal rights. They also presented evidence of gender discrimination and inequality in various aspects of society, such as the gender pay gap and limited representation in government and corporate leadership positions.
The negative side, on the other hand, argued that an equal rights amendment is not necessary because women already have equal rights under the law. They pointed out existing legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Pay Act, that provide legal protections against gender discrimination. They also highlighted the potential negative consequences of an equal rights amendment, such as the possibility of erasing legal distinctions between men and women that may be necessary for certain situations, like affirmative action programs.
As a speaker in the debate, I presented my arguments clearly and supported them with evidence. I made sure to address the counterarguments raised by the opposing side and provided rebuttals to strengthen my position. I also tried to engage the audience by using persuasive language and appealing to their values and beliefs.
Overall, I believe I actively participated in the debate and effectively communicated my points. However, I could have improved my listening skills by actively seeking out different perspectives and considering the validity of opposing arguments. Additionally, I could have asked more questions or challenged the opposing side to further clarify their points and reasoning.
In conclusion, participating in this debate on the equal rights amendment was a valuable experience. It allowed me to deepen my understanding of the issue and engage in critical thinking and persuasive communication. I learned to evaluate different perspectives, present my arguments effectively, and actively listen to others' opinions. This experience has further reinforced my belief in the importance of equal rights for women and the need for legal protections to ensure gender equality.