Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution and Commission on the Legal Status of Women: Hearings before the Subcommittee No. 1 of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives. March 10 and 12, 1948. In the statement of Hon. Katharine St. George, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York, she says “Now, Mr. Chairman, as a woman, I feel that we are well able today to take our place beside our men on an equal footing. I have no illusions that it will all be plain sailing; I realize full well that we will have to take the rough with the smooth, and I think we are willing and able to do just that. A great deal has been made of the so-called physical and biological handicaps of women and of the necessity that these create for certain protective legislation. I cannot agree with this view. I believe that women are, on the whole, stronger physically than men. The life expectancy of women in the United States is about 5 years greater than that of men. Much is made of the hazard and handicap; of maternity. This again is exaggerated. Maternity is not a disease, it is a natural and a perfectly normal function. Women in industry and labor should be allowed maternity bonuses and benefits for the necessary time that they have to absent themselves…The great and crying need for the amendment is to insure equal pay for equal work”… This hearing is shelved under Y 4.J 89/1:C 76/16 (80th Congress, 2nd Session).
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