Early on, the advocates of the ERA openly said as much, and Schlafly had researched and found the proof. I prepped one of her followers for a debate on the ERA at a local women's club by digging out and copying the source law review articles and Congressional reports that Schlafly cited.
At the debate, when the young liberal women lawyer arguing for the ERA cried foul and said that, like Schlafly, her opponent was making up quotes, the demure housewife of a college chemistry professor held up copies of the sources and read directly from them. Giving copies to the ERA advocate, she asked her to make sure that she had read them accurately. The poor thing took a look, turned red, and mumbled, unable to continue. The moderator declared the debate over due to time running out.
Like Schlafly, the ERA opponent also won knowing laughs and amens when she offered that women know that there are many good men who would be utterly lost in life without the help and care of women. So, yes, contrary to what the ERA would command, women fully deserve both equal opportunity and special protections and consideration.
Against such common sense, the ERA did not have a chance.