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The Life of a Legend; Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg


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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg acknowledges the crowd as she arrives to speak at a discussion on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington. © Patrick Semansky/2020 The Associated Press


Early Life


Ruth Bader Ginsburg began her life in a middle class family in Brooklyn, NY on March 13th, 1933. She lived the life of a regular child and attended an ordinary school. She grew up with her sister Marilyn in which they shared the beginning of their life and experiences. When she was older she was awarded a scholarship to Cornell University in which her parents had encouraged her to settle down and marry a decent man. While Ruth was at Cornell, she had developed larger aspirations than that of settling down, she wanted to achieve something better. She did in fact meet her husband of many years, Martin Ginsburg at Cornell University and she had said in an interview, “he was the only man I had ever met who liked me for my brain”. The day before her graduation, sadly, her mother had passed away unexpectedly.


After her mother’s unfortunate passing, Martin and Ruth were accepted into Harvard Law School, and brought their newborn daughter Jane with them. In Martin’s second year he had developed a rare form of cancer and struggled to remain in good health. In addition to caring for a young child, excelling in her own Harvard Law studies, and caring for her ill husband. Ruth had decided to take on the responsibility of taking notes and attending class for her husband as well.


While her husband was ill, they were required to transfer to a New York facility for intensive care. After he had successfully graduated with the assistance of Ruth, she transferred to Columbia Law School where she finished top of her class. Once her husband grew healthier, they had their second child, James. Ruth failed to seek a job as a lawyer in New York City and gained a job as a professor at Rutgers University. At Rutgers, she began a women’s rights movement and taught a class which had educated her students to learn more about the equality of women. At this time she had founded the ACLU women’s rights project.



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Ruth Bader Ginsburg being sworn into her position, alongside her husband, (right), Martin Ginsburg. © The Independant


Midlife


Following her time at Rutgers University, she left and became the first female professor at Columbia University to receive tenure. She continued on her journey to achieving gender equality by arguing five equality-based cases in front of nine men on the United States Supreme Court. She had won 4 out of the 5. These were, Reed vs. Reed, Fronteiro vs. Richardson, United States vs. Virginia, Gonzales vs. Carhart, and County vs. Holder. She then received the honor to be appointed by the 42nd president, Bill Clinton, as the third woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court.


From this point on Ruth Bader Ginsburg created a legacy for herself. She was known for her lengthy and detailed dissents on the US Supreme Court. As well as her friendship with a conservative justice on the court representing moderacy in a time of partisan politics in America. She gained a following as “The Notorious RBG” after the 90s rapper The Notorious BIG. There was merchandise, and songs, and monuments created out of respect for her fight for equality.


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Balancing her Jewish and American heritage, Ginsburg had no lengthy viewing, but no prompt burial. © Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images


Her Passing


Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away recently on September 18th, 2020. Her legacy will never be forgotten and the impact she had on so many people will be passed on for generations. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a symbolic figure in our history who spent a lifetime fighting for women’s rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and an advocate for millions of other voices. The work she has done on the Supreme Court and her time as a professor has ensured and created a more equal and just society. She will be remembered as a hero and may she rest in power.


© GIPHY

Ways to get involved:


(These are some excellent women’s rights programs to assist becoming involved as a gender equality activist, as Ginsburg was herself).


Works Cited:


Aridi, Sara. “How Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lives on In Pop Culture.” The New York Times, 26 Sept. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/09/26/at-home/ruth-bader-ginsburg-pop-culture-rbg.html. Accessed 3 Oct. 2020.


“Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/topic/person/ruth-bader-ginsburg. Accessed 3 Oct. 2020.




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