The crossword solution for the term ARE BACKWARD is ERA. ERA is an acronym for Equal Rights Amendment, which was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that sought to guarantee equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex. The amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1972 but failed to be ratified by the necessary number of states. Despite this, the ERA continues to be a rallying cry for gender equality and has been reintroduced in Congress multiple times since its initial introduction.