In 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment failed to be ratified, but the Title IX Amendment was signed into law. What does this signal about the changing role and rights of women in modern America?

The dichotomy between the the Equal Rights Amendment and Title IX shows Americans were wary of the potential for changing gender roles while also acknowledging the problems of discrimination. The Equal Rights Amendment would have required more far-reaching changes in American culture. The leading arguments against the Equal Rights Amendment focused on issues of women being incorporated in the draft and forced into combat roles, as well as on the claim that making the genders equal would end alimony and Social Security benefits for widowers. The created a rift among women about the desirability of traditional gender roles. The failure of the Equal Rights Amendment was, therefore, largely due to Americans' inability to accept a change in traditional gender roles.
Title IX was less far-reaching, as it focused solely on anti-discrimination measures. It did not change the traditional gender roles; instead, it focused on preventing well-documented discrimination against women.
Therefore, the dichotomy regarding which amendment was passed shows Americans' simultaneous dislike for discrimination and inability to accept changing gender roles.