Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, feminist and cultural icon, died on Sept. 18 at the age of 87 after serving on the Supreme Court for 27 years. Ginsburg was one of the first women ever to be a Supreme Court Justice. She fought for many liberal causes including gender equality, abortion rights, and same sex marriage.
After graduating from Cornell Univeristy and Columbia Law School, Ginsburg faced gender based discrimination as she tried to find a job. She began her law career clerking under U.S. District Judge Palmeri. She was at first denied because of her gender, and was only hired when a Columbia professor refused to recommend any other student to Judge Palmeri until Ginsburg was given the position.
Justice Ginsburg, popularly known by her initials, RBG, was seen as an idol by many young people. The dissent collar that she wore has become a symbol for feminists and their fight for equality. Much of her support came from social media; her legacy is unique, considering that she is the only Supreme Court justice to have this kind of following.
RBG had a profound impact on people all across the United States, specifically women and girls. Many members of the USN community feel her loss deeply, and have since reflected on the ways that her work impacted them.“I think she stands as a model for young women–and men–of someone who (although not perfect) found a way to live with purpose, integrity, and passion,” said Dr. Wheeler, High School English teacher and Feminism Club faculty sponsor.
Justice Ginsburg was a role model for many. She overcame numerous battles throughout her life and opened doors for any woman who wished to follow in her footsteps, while fighting for herself as well.
Wheeler continues, “I greatly admire the way that she was determined to live a full and active life until the very end, despite illness and age.” It would be completely reasonable for RBG to retire and relax for the last years of her life, but she cared too much for the people she served to simply resign.
In the last two decades of her life, Ginsburg fought through multiple bouts of pancreatic cancer while continuing to serve on the Supreme Court. Many people hoped that she would stay strong and make it through the last months of President Trump’s time in office, and although she lost her battle, she fought for the American people until the end.
The search for her successor has been a source of great controversy among Americans. Considering that our current president is a member of the Republican party, her replacement would likely disagree with her liberal views.
“I imagine that she fiercely wanted to live two more months,” added Wheeler. Many of Ginsburg’s supporters hoped that she would live until the election, hoping that Trump would lose and she could retire with the knowledge that her replacement would share her political views. “I admire her for a life well-lived to the very end.”
The authors of this article reached out to many members of the Feminism Club and did not receive any responses.
