The passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18, 2020, is a nationwide loss of monumental proportions. Our country has sadly lost a fearless warrior and champion for all women after a contentious and long battle with cancer. At 87, she passed from complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her two children and four grandchildren.
The news of her death.
As an attorney, the news brought me to my knees. My heart sank as though I had lost one of my own, and we have. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an independent woman, a strong woman, a mother, a grandmother, a lawyer, a friend.
She was someone who broke barriers put into place for women and while breaking them, she opened doors and ensured the protection of future generations of women. She fought against injustice. Advocated for women’s rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
Who was Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ginsburg grew up in Brooklyn. Her mother, a strong and inspirational figure in her life, as we all are for our children, sadly passed the day before her high school graduation. Her mother instilled in her the value of an education and independence.
“My mother told me two things constantly. One was to be a lady, and the other was to be independent. The study of law was unusual for women of my generation. For most girls growing up in the ’40s, the most important degree was not your B.A., but your M.R.S.”
After high school, she kept striving for educational greatness. Ginsburg attended Cornell University and graduated at the top of her class. After receiving her college education, Ginsburg married her husband, Martin Ginsburg. However, Martin was drafted into the military the year they were married, and Ruth was left raising their first child, Jane, alone. She put her education on hold to support her husband and her country. After his return, they attended Harvard Law School together where she was one of only 8 women in a 500 person student body. Overcoming discrimination and obstacles, Ginsburg became the first female on Harvard Law Review.
A wife and a mother.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg began law school with her husband, Martin, when their daughter was merely 14 months old. If you’ve tried to study any profession with a new baby, you understand the struggles that can arise. I can only imagine what law school would have been like for me with Parker in tow. However, Ruth found strength in being a mother, “I attributed my success in law school largely to Jane. I felt each part of my life gave me respite from the other.” Not only that but shortly after beginning law school, her husband contracted testicular cancer, but Ginsburg pressed on for her family. As a mother, a wife, and a student, she raised their daughter, cared for her husband, and attended classes taking notes for the both of them.
After Martin’s recovery, they moved to New York City. She supported her husband and completed her studies. She later graduated at the top of her class from Columbia Law School. They had a second child, James, and their family was complete. In 1980, just as they had moved to New York City for his career, so did Martin give up his successful law practice to move to Washington when she was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals. Their love was one of equality, support, admiration, and respect. Martin even did the cooking for the family because Ruth, as she described herself, was a terrible cook. Word is her children would not let her enter the kitchen! Her husband of 56 years, Martin sadly passed of cancer in 2010.
She was a model working mother and loving wife. She maintained the balance we strive for and, at the same time, managed to change our country for women and moms.
The Supreme Court.
Even prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court, a stark feminist, Ginsburg was an advocate for the fair treatment of women. She argued six gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court, for us. Ruth Bader Ginsburg worked tirelessly with the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project. She believed in gender equality. Ruth even argued and won a case before the Supreme Court on a portion of the Social Security Act that favored women as widows over men as widowers.
In 1993, she was appointed to the Supreme Court where she became the second female Supreme Court Justice and eventually, the longest-serving. During her nomination, knowing the value of a mother’s influence, she spoke a tribute to her own mother stating, “I pray that I may be all that she would have been had she lived in an age when women could aspire and achieve and daughters are cherished as much as sons.”
She acknowledged our Constitution did not need to ignore differences between sexes but that the Constitution not be applied to create any legal, social, or economic inferiority toward women or even men.
Despite her differences with her colleagues on the Court, she respected everyone’s opinions. After writing scything dissents, she would set aside her differences with her colleagues. She and her dear friend, Justice Scalia, would attend operas together and held a beautiful friendship despite their differing opinions.
The Notorious RBG.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg moved past being a legal icon to a cultural icon. She came to be known for the ornate neckwear she wore over her robes and as the “Notorious RBG.” Her collars and neckwear had their own feminist agenda as the robes were made specifically to show men’s ties and collars, a patriarchal oversight to women on the bench. She used them to show her moods. Particularly, she wore a white ruffled one over her black judicial robes to express her dissent with style.
She even has a workout named after her, the RBG Workout! She worked out with the same trainer since 1999, focusing on her health. Watching this small woman doing planks, weight training, and squats better than I can is an incredible inspiration.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Legacy.
“If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself… something that makes life a little better for people less fortunate than you.”
Striving for equality for all, Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves us as a role model for ourselves, for our daughters, for our future. We, as women, owe her for the rights we hold now. Her battles allow us today to have rights that were not guaranteed or purposely denied.
As the first female Jewish Supreme Court Justice, she passed on the holiest day in the Jewish religion, Rosh Hashanah. Not only that, but this year Rosh Hashanah began on Shabbat. She was held highly in God’s heart.
May her legacy inspire us to fight against injustice, to continue to make our country one where women are empowered, and their rights protected and respected. May we honor her by standing up for injustices, by inspiring others to do the same, and because, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
If you want to read more about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I encourage you to check out these two books:
So beautifully written, Ana Sofia. I learned more information on the notorious RBG with your post! Thank you for writing this so we can share this for years to come!
Thank you for your kind words Krystal!! I appreciate them so much. <3
Wonderful article, written with passion from an attorney narrating the story of one of the most remarkable lawyers of our time. This exemplary Supreme Court Justice, woman, wife, mother, grandmother who fought tirelessly for so many invaluable causes that will perpetuate throughout generations.
All our gratitude to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, RIP.
Thank you, Ana-Sofia!
Thank you! I’m glad you found the article moving and I appreciate all the kind words ❤️
This piece would do RBG proud Ana-Sofia! Thank you for sharing this with us and everyone.
Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it ❤️
Thank you for writing this Ana-Sofia! What a wonderful tribute to such an amazing icon for women (especially attorneys!) everywhere. This one hits hard; but it’s important for people to know who she was, how much she overcame, and how thankful we are that she fought tirelessly for our rights. <3
Thank you Daniela!! I know we have a special place for her in our attorney hearts. ❤️
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