Which of the following was a conservative criticism of the Equal Rights Amendment? A. The ERA would reduce the American population. B. The ERA would cause massive unemployment. C. The ERA would hurt the traditional family. D. The ERA would reduce women's wages.

One reason why conservatives were against the Equal Rights Amendment was because they were afraid that the traditional family would be hurt. Conservatives place a big emphasis on the family and family values. There were concerns that if the Equal Rights Amendment passed, women would be denied their right to be supported by their husbands. There were concerns that women would be sent into battle, that gay marriages would become legal, and that abortion rights would be upheld. Each of these issues was an issue that threatened the traditional family and traditional family values.
There were concerns that women would have to be paid the same wages that men were paid. It was believed that this might encourage more women to leave the traditional role of housewife and enter the workforce. There were concerns that if women entered the workforce, they would become financially independent. Women might then choose to leave unhappy marriages or not get married at all. These concerns were additional threats to the traditional family and to traditional family values.