Did you know that in the United States, we still haven’t ratified the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) 35 years since it was sent out to states to ratify? Did you know that women technically still aren’t considered to be full and equal citizens in America? We are one state short from ratification, friends. Today we can have a credit card in our own name, work outside the home, and vote, but these seemingly basic rights weren’t always something women could count on. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a long way to go.
She the People, written by Jen Deaderick, is an illustrated look at the history of Women’s rights from the start of the United States of America to present day. It is sassy, smart, and covers a heck of a lot of ground for one book. Though some mentions of famous feminine figures are short, all are powerful reminders of those women who have come before to fight for the rights of women. She the People does an incredible job of balancing out the contributions, not just including white women, but women of color as well. The book is broken down into time periods, each with their select group of women and told in a mostly linear time frame. What’s shocking and somewhat horrifying is how similar some of the historical eras are to our current day. The ERA is a major part of this book, as are the frustrations of women who have sacrificed everything to move forward the rights of women in the United States.
For those of you wondering what the ERA says, and why it is seemingly so controversial that only 37 out of 38 states have ratified it, here is the current text:“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.”
