I want to start by saying I absolutely favor an equal rights amendment. It's long past overdue, & there's no reason (Phyllis Schafly et. al. silliness notwithstanding) not to carry it through.

That being said, however, I don't see how such a law would impact some of the very real issues you cite. Would it require women earn the same dollar every man earns?

How?

And, even if it did, would it allow women to leave their drinks untended? Or walk through empty parking lots at night w/o their keys interlaced?

I think there are very real issues an equal rights amendment has the power to address—e.g reproductive autonomy.

But crime will still happen.

And I wanted to address the quoted portion because it's one I often see. Reports of frequent muggings, armed robberies are seen as a symptom of gambling or sex addition, i.e. a need to explain where the money went. These aren't afflictions limited solely to men, true, but we are overrepresented. This doesn't mean it's okay to bring up sexual history, or the victim's attire or comportment. Those are not relevant to the crime of sexual assault. But as a basis for comparison it just doesn't work.

Recent trends in higher education suggest ways in which pay & management gaps between the sexes might be reduced. While acknowledging the persistence of a glass ceiling, this report by UNESCO states in part: "Since the late 1970s, the male advantage has evaporated and turned intoa disadvantage. Women's overall success in acquiring human capital may be one of the major social changes in recent history".

Alice Paul wasn't wrong to advocate an equal rights amendment. And we ought to have one. But it will always only be a part of the entire process.