Military

“How will the Equal Rights Amendment impact our military?”

  • Women represent 16% of enlisted forces and 18% of the officer corp. There are nearly two million living women veterans in the United States and that number is projected to nearly double over the next 25 years. (source, Council on Foreign Relations)
  • Women veterans experience emotionally traumatic or distressing experiences while serving and one in five servicewomen seen by Veterans Health Administration disclose they have experienced Military Sexual Trauma. (source, Rep. Sherrill)
  • Seventy-six percent (76%) of victims in the military do not report their attacker (source, Protect Our Defenders), perhaps because victims of sexual assault face grave barriers in the military justice system and improved prevention, oversight and data is much needed. (source, Rep. Sherrill)
  • Active duty women pay up to 10x more than men for mandatory uniform items. (source, GAO as published in Stars and Stripes)
  • Once the 28th Amendment (Equal Rights) is enforceable, government agencies like the military will be held to the standard of “equality of rights under the law” in cases of sex discrimination. Additionally, the military justice system would have a new framework with which to adjudicate cases of military sexual assaults.

NOTE: The 28th Amendment also provides constitutional protection for LGBTQ+ service members from sex discrimination and exclusion from our military.

ADDITIONAL FAQs


Contracts

“Won’t women contractors lose enhanced status for contract bids?”

COVID-19

“What kind of impact is COVID-19 having on gender equality?”

Draft

“Does constitutional equality mean women will be drafted?”

History

“What is the history of the 28th Amendment (Equal Rights)?”