Her Fight to Include Women in the Constitution | Natalie White

Artist and women’s rights activist Natalie White beams in to explain why politicians are sabotaging the Equal Rights Amendment on episode 143 of the Far Out with Faust podcast.

*We’re thrilled to have Natalie White as our first in-person guest filmed at our brand-new studio…please share your feedback in the comments — we hope you love it as much as we do.*

Natalie White is a pioneering feminist and artist renowned for her groundbreaking work in Giant Polaroid Photography and fervent advocacy for women's rights. Her notable solo exhibition at The WhiteBox Foundation in June/July 2016 set the stage for a momentous 250-mile march from New York City to Washington, D.C., aimed at propelling the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) into the national conversation. Demonstrating her commitment, White boldly painted “ERA NOW” on the Capitol steps, leading to her arrest and subsequent self-represented trial just before the 2017 Presidential Inauguration and Women’s March. Despite the trial's high-profile nature, with support from celebrities like Patricia Arquette and Kamala Lopez, White faced minimal repercussions, showcasing her ability to leverage media for her cause.

As co-director of  @Equalmeansequal , alongside Kamala Lopez, White played a crucial role in reviving the ERA movement, contributing to Nevada, Illinois and Virginia’s ratification—the first states to do so in nearly four decades. Her activism extended to challenging the Trump Administration's and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's policies, particularly their undermining of Title IX protections. White's relentless pursuit of gender equality and her innovative use of art and activism have solidified her status as a formidable force in the fight for women's constitutional rights.

In this episode, Faust and Natalie discuss the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA): its history, political obstacles, and implications for gender equality in the United States. The two cover questions including: 

-What is the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and why has it not been officially added to the Constitution despite being ratified by the necessary number of states?
-Are women actually second class citizens in the United States?
-How have political figures like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris approached the ERA, and what criticisms have been leveled against their actions or inactions?
-In what ways could the ERA impact women's rights, particularly regarding abortion rights and gender equality in the workplace?
-How does the discussion address the role of state constitutions and the federal constitution in protecting or failing to protect women's rights?
-What are the historical challenges and political opposition that the ERA has faced since its introduction?
-How have recent legal and political efforts aimed at getting the ERA published in the Constitution been received or obstructed?
-What arguments are made concerning the potential effects of the ERA on military service and insurance policies for women?
-How does the conversation critique the Democratic Party's reliance on gender equality issues for political gain without making substantial progress toward actual legal equality?
-How does the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade affect the women’s rights movement?
-What is the US military’s stance on women’s right to choose?
-Can women be drafted by the US military?

Stay tuned till the end, when Natalie mentions how you can get involved in the fight for women’s equality.

Connect with Natalie White
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natalie.white.7186
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itswhitetrash

Connect with Equal Means Equal 
Website: https://equalmeansequal.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equalmeansequalmovie/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ERAEducationProject
Instagram: ht