Short Answer 
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) aimed to ensure gender equality under U.S. law but faced challenges during its ratification due to vague wording, which raised concerns about unintended consequences. Fears regarding impacts on military service, labor laws, and family custody led to a lack of support and prevented its adoption into the Constitution.
Understanding the Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was proposed to ensure that all citizens in the United States would have equal rights under the law regardless of sex. This amendment aimed to eliminate any legal distinctions between genders, promoting gender equality in various aspects such as employment and family rights. Although it was rooted in good intentions, several challenges arose during its ratification process.
Concerns Over Vague Wording
One major reason for the failure of the ERA was the ambiguity in its wording, which led to widespread concern among the public and lawmakers. Many argued that the ambiguous language could result in unintended consequences. The fears included:
- Impact on military service requirements for women
- Possible challenges to protective labor laws for women
- Changes to family law and custody arrangements
The Broader Impact of Fear
The fear surrounding the potential unintended effects of the ERA, stemming from its vagueness, led to a lack of support for its ratification. Advocacy groups and opponents used these fears to galvanize public opinion against the amendment, emphasizing scenarios that could arise if it were passed. Consequently, this lack of consensus prevented the ERA from being adopted into the Constitution, despite its initial momentum and support.