Parent Guide > Testimony Before the Senate Hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment

by Gloria Steinem 1970

Welcome to the parent guide for this text! Read below to find out about what your child is reading in class and how you can support him/her at home.

This week in class, we’re reading "Testimony Before the Senate Hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment" by Gloria Steinem.

Gloria Steinem (1934-present) is an American feminist, journalist, author, and social-political activist. She gained national recognition as a leader of the "Second Wave" feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s. On May 6th, 1970, Gloria Steinem stood before the Senate and delivered this speech, advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and seeking to dispel myths about women.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Gender Roles and Social Change & Revolution as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How do we define the roles of men and women?" and "How do people create change?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this speech at home:
    • What was "Testimony Before the Senate Hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment" about?
    • What did you learn about Gender Roles?
    • What did you learn about Social Change & Revolution?