National Archives Holds Special Program on ERA October 4
Press Release · Monday, September 26, 2016

Washington, DC

Screening and discussion of documentary "Equal Means Equal"

On Tuesday, October 4, at 7 p.m., the National Archives presents a special screening and discussion of the Equal Means Equal, a documentary film on the status of women in America.

This program is free and open to the public and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street, NW. Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station. Reservations are suggested and can be made online. This event is presented by the National Archives in partnership with the Alice Paul Institute, and in conjunction with the exhibition, Amending America.

Through real-life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, the documentary film Equal Means Equal looks at how women are treated in the United States today, and presents a compelling and persuasive argument for the urgency of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. The film argues that outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence issues such as workplace harassment, domestic violence, foster care, healthcare, the judicial system, and the inadequacy of present laws that claim to protect women.

A panel discussion will follow the screening. The panel includes: Kamala Lopez, Director, Equal Means Equal; Eleanor Smeal, President and a Co-founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation; Bettina Hager, DC Director of the ERA Coalition and Fund for Women’s Equality; and Bridget Brown, Executive Director, National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.

Related exhibits at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC

• The Amending America temporary exhibit explores the remarkably American story of how we amended, or attempted to amend, our Constitution in order to form a more perfect union. The exhibit includes petitions, interactives, landmark documents, and political cartoons addressing issues including women’s rights, slavery, civil rights and voting rights. Through September 4, 2017.
   
• The Records of Rights permanent exhibit uses original documents, photographs, facsimiles, videos, and interactive exhibits to explore how Americans have worked to realize the ideals of freedom enshrined in our nation’s founding documents. A section of this exhibit, “ Remembering the Ladies,” shows how women redefined the opening words of the U.S. Constitution—"We the People"—to include both sexes.

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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