Phyllis Schlafly Was Right
Phyllis Schlafly turned 97 this year and her legacy continues to make waves in the conservative movement years after her crusade against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) during the 1970s. Many have recently discovered her impact from the miniseries Mrs. America, met with critical acclaim.
Out of the Barry Goldwater campaign, her brand of conservatism led to the Reagan Revolution that had grown to fruition in the wake of a new political alignment. She played an integral role in the culture war that was still undergoing the contentious Civil Rights Movement.
Once the ripple effect had reached gender, figures like Betty Friedman and Gloria Steinem emerged as seemingly the only voices for women. Schlafly would prove to be a force to be reckoned with, revealing the nuance and infighting among women's rights activism.
In her book, A Choice Not An Echo, she called out the Republican donor class for not representing the religious right. A demographic that was often sidelined by the sexual revolution, Schlafly mobilized the traditionalists into grassroots coalitions.
She became the face of the pro-family movement that was often prioritized beneath progressive causes that dominated media exposure in the 60s. These coalitions amounted to the widespread rejection of the ERA with Schlafly at the helm.
Her opponents didn’t hold back. There was no shortage of critique from her liberal counterparts. Schlafly’s promotion of the nuclear family as the foundation of society created friction among her critics. A woman traveling across the country, campaigning, and leading a political movement? That doesn’t sound like a housewife.
Yet, when it came to face to face debate, she made the most compelling cases as her opposition were often visibly distraught. Her appearances on Firing Line and Phil Donahue left a positive impression on the side of tradition. Their talking points were gaining traction on network TV, pushing the Overton window in favor of the right. A callback to tradition no longer had the limits of Richard Weaver or the baggage of George Wallace.
Normally, coalition building and vocal agitation is reserved for the left. The 60s, championed by rebelling against the historic American standards, became successful in garnering mainstream support. The right couldn’t win with Nelson Rockefeller or Goldwater and were quickly selling themselves short in the culture war. The post-Civil Rights Act era left the conservative movement in dire need for a spokesman to rise to the challenge. Surprisingly, Schlafly would fill the void.
From her speeches toward state legislators to national TV spots, her presence was unavoidable after relentless activism in the name of family values. The cultural watershed moments of the 60s were making waves in the next decade and unprepared for the reactionary response to the political climate. It was rare to see so much enthusiasm for patriarchal norms in the face of egalitarian power grabs.
Despite the ERA ratification in 1971, the message had already reached voters nationwide. What historians call fusionism can be traced back to the united factions created by Schlafly and her Eagle Forum organization. Congress and the Supreme Court had been influenced by second wave feminism, although their grip on voters was starting to loosen.
Schlafly’s unapologetic defense of traditional America made her an outlier against the rising tide of social justice. Many have gained fame and admiration for representing conservatives as media pundits and columnists. Her actions gained national relevance and led a populist revolt from the heartland.