University of Virginia Library

Protective Legislation

Mrs. Schlafly says that ERA
will wipe out the protections
women now have from
"dangerous and unpleasant
jobs." These protections
include laws limiting women's
work hours, and prohibiting
night work or employment in
certain occupations. In Virginia,
protective laws restrict the
hours a woman can work per
week to nine hours a day or six
days a week.

The League of Women
Voters claim that this
"protective legislation"
imposes arbitrary restrictions
on women, often disqualifying
them from supervisory jobs
requiring overtime. They say
that protective legislation laws
have been used to deny women
promotions, overtime pay and
uniform collective bargaining.