The bleak reality is that because hard-won laws against sex discrimination do not rest on a strong constitutional foundation, they are essentially ephemeral. Also, women seeking enforcement of these laws must not only convince the courts that discrimination has occurred, but that it matters. A constitutional guarantee of equality would absolutely shift the burden away from those fighting discrimination and place it where it belongs, on those who would discriminate. They would have to justify why discrimination should be allowed rather than women having to explain why we deserve equality. Discrimination Exists - Women need only examine our own life experiences to know that discrimination on the basis of sex is abundant in our society.
Women are underpaid and undervalued in the workforce.
Jobs traditionally held by women remain clustered at the lower end of the pay scale, while traditional men's jobs, even those having similar education requirements and time and effort on the job, are paid more. Thus, secretaries are routinely paid less than truck drivers even if both jobs are of equal importance to a company. Issues of pay equity for comparable worth are not addressed by any federal laws. Stereotyping of pregnant women and mothers, interference with a woman's right to control her own body and other forms of discrimination intrude on women's reproductive freedom. What women do want is recognition that pregnancy is part of the natural human experience and should not be used to put women at a disadvantage.