Martha Wright Griffiths (1912-2003) is known as "The Mother of the ERA." Over the course of her 42 year political career, she fought against gender inequity both in society and under the law.
Martha Wright Griffiths (1912-2003) is known as "The Mother of the ERA." Over the course of her 42 year political career, she fought against gender inequity both in society and under the law.
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History classes can get a bad wrap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
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This month, we’re talking about Innovators — from inventors to activists. These women dared to think differently, forging new paths that helped shape the world we live in today.
This episode is part of a crossover season with Ordinary Equality, all about women whose work and activism contributed to the ongoing history of the Equal Rights Amendment. Head over to that show to hear an expanded version of today’s episode.
Today, we’re talking about The Mother of the ERA. Over the course of her 42 year political career, she fought against gender inequity both in society and under the law.
Let’s talk about Martha Wright Griffiths
When Martha Edna Wright was born, on January 29, 1912, American women couldn’t vote. When she was eight years old, the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women’s suffrage to some – though certainly not all.
Martha’s family didn’t have much. And her mother, Lou Ella, believed that education was the path forward for independent women. Throughout Martha’s childhood, Lou Ella worked extra jobs, saving for her daughter’s future. And it paid off.
Martha was accepted into the University of Missouri and earned a political science degree. While there, she met Hicks Griffiths. They married when Martha was 21 years old.
In 1934, Martha and Hicks both graduated from Mizzou, moved to Michigan and attended law school.
Martha went into practice with a friend from college, and worked for the Defense Department for much of World War II. After the war was over, Martha felt pulled towards a different career path: politics.
Her start in this new field wasn’t easy.
She lost her first campaign in 1946. Two years later, in 1948, she won a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, where she served for two terms.
In 1952, after a failed attempt at a U.S. Congressional seat, Martha was appointed as a judge in Detroit. She saw over 400 criminal cases in her time on the bench, and got insight into both sides of the law. Two years later, in 1954, Martha won her Congressional race – without the support of her state Democratic Party. She was only the second Michigan woman to be elected to the U.S. House. She would go on to run – and win – nine more times.
Martha settled into her new role as a Congresswoman, she realized just how often – and how brutally – women were at the mercy of the country’s laws. Reversing that inequity would become her lifelong fight.
In 1961, there was a push for a woman to be assigned to the Ways and Means Committee. Which, basically, deals with all things… money. In 1962, Martha became the first woman appointed to the group.
One of Martha’s most important contributions came in 1964. The Judiciary Committee was debating the Civil Rights Act. Martha homed in on Title VII.
Title VII barred employment discrimination based on race, national origin, color, religion – and thanks to a last-minute amendment from Martha – sex. The amendment proved to be one of the most profound advances for women’s rights in the 20th century.
But Martha’s biggest battle was for the Equal Rights Amendment.
The ERA was first introduced in 1923, by Alice Paul. By the time Martha entered the House, in 1955, she was convinced that passing the ERA was the only way to seriously improve women’s rights. Every year, Martha brought forth the ERA, just to watch the Judiciary Committee kill it.
So in 1970, Martha decided on a different tactic. She chose the discharge petition, a rarely-used procedure that required a majority of the House’s support. If Martha could get those 218 signatures, then she could pull the ERA out of the Judiciary Committee and onto the floor for debate.
For 40 days, Martha stalked her fellow representatives. And on August 10, 1970, she opened it up for debate. She said, “Mr. Speaker, this is not a battle between the sexes—nor a battle between this body and women,” Griffiths said. “This is a battle with the Supreme Court of the United States.”
In 1971, the ERA passed in the House. The following spring, in 1972, it was approved by the Senate. But it was only ratified by 35 of the required 38 states. To this day, the ERA has yet to become part of the Constitution.
In 1974, Martha decided not to run for an 11th term. But in no way did she retire. She spent a few years as Michigan’s lieutenant governor. She kept practicing law. On her own tirelessness, she said,
“Before I leave this Earth, I would like to
know they have given women the same benefits and promotions
as men. All I want to be is human and American and have all the
same rights and I will shut up.”
Martha died on April 22, 2003. She was 91 years old.
Tune in tomorrow for the story of another Innovator.
Special thanks to Womanica’s co-creators Jenny and Liz Kaplan. Check out Ordinary Equality for more on Martha Wright Griffiths and other leaders in the fight for equality.