Final Arete - Volume 4, No 1 Fall Winter 2026

Αρετή (Arete) Journal of Excellence in Global Leadership | Vol. 4 No. 1 | 2026

Improving Culture The addition of an Equal Rights Amendment would influence culture. Culture, as has been seen in the last several years, has been shown to change quickly when the conversation shifts (Law, 2020). It is when this shift occurs that things that were previous allowed are now no longer okay (Law, 2020). If this were to evolve through the lens of gender equality there could be a trickle-down effect of fostering a culture which reflects gender equality throughout all aspects of culture and society. This would be separate and apart from legal requirements and transcend into moral tenets. Strengthening the Theory of Equality While the research herein originally started with the study of equality and how gender inequality was inhibiting women from attaining leadership positions the final theoretical implications are broader in scope. The result of the research and action project is to achieve gender equality through the finalizing of the Equal Rights Amendment and issuance of corresponding legislation and regulations to strengthen gender equality. These actions enhance not only number of women leaders, but they strengthen and further the theory of gender equality and equality of women. Challenging the Assumption that Equal Rights Amendment is Unnecessary The 14 th Amendment has been used as the basis for several seminal rulings to infer gender equality to women. The use of this amendment has been touted as the baseline for such equality, but it was never the intent of the amendment. The action project herein would finalize the Equal Rights Amendment, and with this amendment, gender equality would be solidified and not just inferred through the language of the 14 th Amendment.

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