Phyllis Schlafly

Phyllis McAlpin Stewart Schlafly (August 15, 1924 – September 5, 2016) was an American conservative activist, author, lawyer, and radio commentator who became one of the most prominent figures in the conservative movement. Schlafly is perhaps best known for her successful campaign against the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970s and 1980s, which she argued would harm women and the family. She founded the Eagle Forum in 1972, a conservative organization dedicated to defending traditional family values and opposing feminist initiatives. Schlafly was a prolific author, writing over 20 books on political and social issues. Despite being a lawyer and professional woman herself, she advocated for traditional gender roles and motherhood as women's primary calling, a position that positioned her as a controversial figure among feminists while making her a heroine to social conservatives. Her opposition to the ERA, though controversial, was strategically effective and is credited with preventing the amendment's ratification. Schlafly's influence extended beyond the ERA to broader conservative causes, including foreign policy and education. She remained politically active and influential throughout her life, maintaining a weekly radio program and contributing to conservative publications. Her legacy remains divisive: celebrated by conservatives for defending traditional values and criticized by progressives for opposing women's rights initiatives.