Religion, Sex & Politics: The Story of the Equal Rights Amendment in Florida

• Other Authors: Brock, Laura E. (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Religion
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-7311

This dissertation examines the decade-long (1972-1982) Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) battle in Florida. It reviews the role that religion played in the political conflict. Religion had a motivating effect on ERA proponents and opponents. Women were mobilized to enter the political arena, many for the first time, on both sides of the ERA battle. Religion affected the legislative debates and public rhetoric, and had a strong role in galvanizing support and opposition. Moving beyond the description of religion in the historical narrative, this dissertation also describes how pro- and anti-ERA forces transmitted beliefs, communicated ideology, and constructed meaning through portraying, or "framing" events for public consumption. The "frames" used by each side of the debate demonstrate how moral worldviews transformed into political positions. Primary and secondary historical sources are used to trace the affect of religion on political semantics - especially the framing of legislative debate arguments, anecdotes, and rhetoric. Archival research includes information from legislative committee meetings, floor debates, correspondence, newspaper articles, and oral histories. In addition, this dissertation emphasizes the religious connection made by ERA opponents to other social concerns and how religious rhetoric obscured economic concerns that had been paramount to the conception and congressional support for the ERA. As the decade unfolded, ERA opposition fueled the rise of the Religious Right. Ratification was unsuccessful in Florida for the same reasons the ERA failed in other states. The white male-dominated southern legislature favored opponents' explicit moral framing while also implicitly following the wishes of business interests. A handful of senate powerbrokers blocked passage of the amendment for a decade, based on varying reasons, although the rhetoric followed similar religious arguments throughout the ten-year battle. The decade-long debates reveal the perpetual conflict in the political realm when religion, gender, and social issues intersect. This project attempts to make a contribution in three ways: first, by expanding the current ERA studies to include a slice of political life - the ERA battle - in the state of Florida, with its unique political demographics; second, by explaining how religion led to the failure of ratification when opponents linked the amendment to "threatening" social issues such as abortion expansion or gay rights, and forced ERA supporters into a defensive strategy; and third, by showing how Florida women used political framing in their lobbying efforts to generate support, or opposition, or resources, in the decade-long political conflict. Ironically, although the ERA was defeated, female proponents and opponents were empowered through political involvement. This was especially paradoxical for ERA opponents, who advocated traditional female roles while immersed in political activism outside the home. After the ERA battle ended in 1982, many women's issues were addressed through progressive legislation, court decisions, and administrative rulings. More female legislators were elected to political office on the state and national government levels. === A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Summer Semester, 2013. === June 24, 2013. === Equal Rights Amendment, Florida Legislature, Florida Politics, Framing, Religion === Includes bibliographical references. === Amanda Porterfield, Professor Directing Dissertation; John Corrigan, Committee Member; John Kelsay, Committee Member.