In a June American Mind article titled “Phyllis Schlafly’s Last Laugh,” Sarah Wilder eloquently captures the prophetic insights and enduring legacy of the late Phyllis Schlafly. The recent announcement by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee to require women to register for the draft highlights the troubling trajectory that Schlafly warned against in her fight against the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s.
Schlafly predicted that the ERA would lead to women being drafted just as men are, a concern that was hard to dismiss even during the Vietnam War. Schlafly argued, “Congress will be constitutionally required to draft women on the same basis as men,” during a televised debate with feminist Pat Schroeder. Schroeder conceded that a proper application of the ERA would have to subject women to the draft, underscoring the validity of Schlafly’s concerns, according to Sarah Wilder.
Wilder says that Schlafly’s fears extended beyond the draft to the destruction of single-sex spaces, which women need for safety and privacy. Today, her warnings resonate deeply as women are forced to share intimate spaces with men claiming to be women. A teammate of transgender swimmer William “Lia” Thomas recently noted being forced to “undress with him 18 times a week,” highlighting the invasion of privacy and safety that Schlafly predicted. The tragic incident of a trans student raping a girl in a Virginia school bathroom in 2021 further underscores the dangers Schlafly warned about.
Wilder’s article reaffirms that Schlafly’s legacy is one of prophetic insight and unwavering dedication to protecting women’s rights. Schlafly’s opposition to the ERA was rooted in a genuine concern for the safety and dignity of women, concerns that have proven to be well-founded. Her legacy stands as a testament to the enduring importance of conservative principles in defending the rights and dignity of women.
