Dear John,

With each passing day, it’s apparent that voters are feeling energized, with the prospect of a woman president. But as election season gets underway in earnest, we can’t forget about the ways government can and should be ensuring women’s equality and representation. Earlier this month at its annual meeting, the American Bar Association declared that the Equal Rights Amendment is fully ratified, and should be implemented by the legal community and all levels of government.

As contributing editor Carrie Baker reports, the resolution directly blows away two arguments ERA opponents have used for years to stymie progress on the Amendment’s implementation: 1. That the ratification is invalid because Congress placed a seven-year time limit for ratification in the preamble to the ERA passed in 1972 (later extended another three years), and 2. That six states that ratified the ERA have validly rescinded their ratifications. (Constitutional law scholars underscore that the Constitution does not provide for recisions—only ratifications.)

“This is BIG news,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a leading ERA advocate. “The leading association for legal minds just endorsed our position that the Equal Rights Amendment has satisfied every constitutional requirement and called on the entire legal community to support certifying and publishing the ERA as our 28th Amendment.”

The polls have been showing it for the past year: women’s rights issues—and women’s votes—will be decisive in this fall’s elections. With this in mind, we’re going to be on the ground in Chicago next week at the Democratic National Convention—listening in on key speeches, and reporting on the policies and politicians that matter to feminists this election year. If you’re in Chicago, we’d like to invite you to join us! We’ll be featured at several events throughout the DNC:

Monday 8/19 @ 2pm CT: Join the Feminist Majority and ERA Coalition for a Feminist Equalitea gathering in celebration of Kamala Harris for smashing the highest of glass ceilings, the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and the fight for its recognition, and fabulous feminist candidates and elected officials at Palmer House Hilton, State Ballroom, 17 East Monroe Street
Tuesday 8/20 @ Noon CT: USC Annenberg School will host “Why Women Matter” (a media series with Ms., Politico, Univision, and others) featuring Michele Goodwin, Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, Carol Jenkins and myself at Hilton Chicago, Astoria Room 3rd Floor, 720 South Michigan Avenue
Wednesday 8/21 @ Noon CT: USC Annenberg School will host a conversation between myself and expert pollster Celinda Lake at Hilton Chicago, Astoria Room 3rd Floor, 720 South Michigan Avenue

We hope to see you there! And even if you’re not going to be in Chicago, be sure to check MsMagazine.com or subscribe to our daily newsletters for ongoing dispatches from the DNC.

Finally, this week we relaunched our Front & Center series in partnership with Springboard to Opportunities. Over the past three years, the series has given a platform for Black mothers receiving guaranteed income to share their experiences. As we head into our fourth year of the series, we are reaffirming our commitment to shining a light on issues faced by Black women living in poverty—but we’re also looking at the bigger picture.

Both Springboard to Opportunities and Ms. understand the vital importance of taking a systemic view when it comes to the issues Black women in America face: “Women, especially Black women, have long been the backbone of our care infrastructure… This disproportionate burden exacerbates economic inequalities, limiting their ability to generate income and build wealth. By focusing on broader systemic issues such as these, our Front & Center series will highlight the urgent need for robust care infrastructure that supports all women, particularly those who are most marginalized,” Aisha Nyandoro, CEO of Springboard, and I wrote in Ms. this week.

I hope you’ll take some time this weekend to explore more essays from the collection—and be sure to check back in on Monday for our first day of dispatches from the DNC.

Onward,

Weekly Digest

Weekly Digest

Letter from an Editor | August 17, 2024

This Week's Must-Reads from Ms.

Equal Rights Amendment Is Valid and Should Be Implemented, Says American Bar Association

Ms. Magazine @ the DNC

Front & Center’s Next Phase: How We Fix Systems Designed to Fail Black Women

How Single Moms in Mississippi Make It Work: ‘There Are Times I Don’t Eat to Make Sure My Kids Do’