Summary Of I Am For The Equal Rights Amendment By Shirley Chisholm

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In “I Am For the Equal Rights Amendment”, Shirley Chisholm speaks on the House Joint Resolution 264, which would grant equality under the law for both men and women. She points out the tremendous opportunities this would provide for the country as a whole, as well as how it would change the overall discrimination against women based on sex as whole. She has an overall tone of hope in the speech. Hope that the bill would pass, hope for better changes in the world. She is very adamant about changes in the prejudices residing within the country. She uses counter-argument to strengthen her opinion. Also, she utilizes credible, factual sources. Even the essence of a call-to-arms for women as a whole exists within the speech at hand. Chisholm utilizes counter-argument within her speech to strengthen her stance. As can be quoted from the first page of the speech, “The argument that this amendment will not solve the problem of sex discrimination is not relevant. If the argument were used against a civil rights bill, as it has been …show more content…

Touching back on counter-arguments, dismantling the argument against giving women equal rights is very empowering to most all American females. Her tone of hope throughout the speech also holds an underlying sense of empowerment. Her messages hidden within the words written on the speech hold unwritten words of encouragement and bravery. One of the quotes that seems to hold an immense underlying sense of empowerment and desire for change is “Indirect effects could be much greater. The focusing of public attention on the gross legal, economic, and social discrimination against women by hearings and debates in the Federal and State legislatures would result in changes in attitude of parents, educators, and employers that would bring about substantial economic changes in the long run.” It definitely evokes an intense sense of desire for changes in the world of that