The term "ERA" stands for "Equal Rights Amendment," a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution aimed at guaranteeing equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. The amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1923 and seeks to eliminate discrimination based on gender, ensuring that women have the same legal rights as men in areas such as employment, education, and property ownership. Despite widespread support, the ERA has faced challenges in ratification. It requires approval from three-fourths of the state legislatures to become law. As of now, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the amendment in 2020, but legal and political debates continue regarding its status and implementation.