KIND Promotes Gender Equality for International Women’s Day
Photo provided by Bridgit Kasperski for Kind Healthy Snacks
KIND, known for their healthy snack bars, has announced a new initiative named KIND EQUALITY. The initiative was created to support the passing of The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which guarantees equal rights for all American citizens regardless of gender.
Originally proposed by National Women’s Party founder Alice Paul in 1923, near ratification of ERA was subsequently stopped cold 50 years later, ironically enough, by a woman named Phyllis Schlafly, leader of the Stop-ERA Campaign. That basically means it took 50 years for women to almost convince state legislatures to pass the bill before a woman-led campaign successfully prevented it. This excerpt from USHistory.org details some of the absurd arguments used to shepherd state legislatures away:
“Protective laws like sexual assault and alimony would be swept away. The tendency for the mother to receive child custody in a divorce case would be eliminated. The all-male military draft would become immediately unconstitutional. Those opposed to the ERA even suggested that single-sex restrooms would be banished by future courts.”
Another surprising tidbit is that America is one of the only modern countries that doesn’t constitutionally guarantee equal gender rights. Public polls report a staggering 80% of Americans falsely believing otherwise. Fortunately, an opportunity to successfully pass ERA has presented itself in the form of Virginia’s recent decision to become the 38th state to ratify the amendment. Originally stopped at 35, the past few years have shown a tide change. It takes 38 states for amendment ratification, after which it must traverse the hurdles of Congress and the Republican-controlled Senate.
To raise awareness for the passing of ERA, KIND has announced the EQUALITY Bot, a quick and easy service for supporters to text elected state officials. A simple text of “Pass the ERA” to 50409 will automatically sign KIND’s petition, which will be sent directly to your state officials. If you’re then so kind as to share proof of signing to Twitter and tag @kindsnacks during March, KIND will donate $1 to the Alice Paul Institute.
Photo provided by Bridgit Kasperski for Kind Healthy Snacks
Additionally, the brand has created a limited-edition caramel almond & sea salt snack called KIND® EQUALITY bar that supports and promotes gender equality. With a minimum donation of $10,000, 100% of the proceeds will go to the Alice Paul Institute (API), a non-profit whose mission is to advance gender equality. The proceeds will assist with educating the public about ERA as well as leadership development for teen girls. Elle Lanning, Chief of Staff at KIND, offers further insight into the new initiative’s purpose:
“KIND has always used our voice to elevate kindness and empathy. In this case, our team, which is comprised mostly of women, is proud to support the ratification of the ERA. Through this program, our hope is to help solidify gender equality as a basic human right in this country, once and for all.”
KIND EQUALITY is part of KIND Snack & Give Back Project, a multi-year program to inspire kindness and empathy. The program features special edition bars, each created to support communities that “haven’t received their fair share of kindness.”
If you’re looking to join the push towards making gender equality a constitutional right, you can purchase the KIND® EQUALITY bar exclusively on www.kindsnacks.com during the month of March.
