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ERA spells change for 150 state lawsWithin two years after 38 states adopt the 27th amendment to the United States Constitution, Connecticut will have to change about 150 state laws.The proposed Equal Rights Amendment will force changes in laws concerning marriage and divorce, retirement and pensions, and how and where women may work, according to the General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Research.Labor laws which now apply only to women would have to be abolished or extended to men. Many laws on the books today exclude women from certain jobs or control the hours and conditions under which they can work. The amendment would also prohibit laws which allow women to retire or receive a pension earlier than men.If the ERA is adopted, married women will no longer be required to use their husband’s name. “Marriage partners could keep their unmar ried names, agree to use either name or take a third name,” according to the research office’s report.The new amendment would also effect laws on divorce, alimony and child custody. Grounds for divorce would be the same for men and women. Sex would no longer be a factor in decisions on the custody of children and the payment of alimony.State laws which impose a duty of family support only on men will also fall.On the national level, laws on military service and social security will have to be changed. Women and men will be equally liable for military service and combat duty.The federal government will have to come up with new formulas for distributing Social Security benefits. Men and women will receive retirement and survivors benefits at the same age and in the same amounts.
Newspaper Details
Westport Fairpress
Westport, Connecticut, US
Wed, Mar 14, 1973
Page 7
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 03 Apr 2025
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