How can a dress support equal rights for women? In 2021, New York Representative Carolyn B. Maloney wore a distinctive gown to the Metropolitan Museum Gala that drew attention to one of the most protracted battles of American women’s political activism: the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Originally drafted by Alice Paul one hundred years ago, the ERA passed Congress by a bipartisan majority in 1972. It was quickly ratified by 35 states, but failed to meet the requisite minimum needed to become constitutional law before the 10-year deadline. However, renewed momentum by Maloney and others has put the amendment back on the legislative table. The design of her gown evokes the long legacy of women activists campaigning for equal rights using their bodies as a billboard.

What’s in a Dress? The Story of Carolyn B. Maloney's ERA Tribute

Image: Glen Castellano, The New York Historical