“Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.”- RBG
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, popularly known as RBG, was an American jurist and the second woman to be part of the United States Supreme Court. She was a pioneer in the justice system and an outspoken activist for women’s rights and equality. She was, in the least, one of the greatest feminist icons in the justice arena. She made a mark and carried on a forceful presence throughout her 27 year career.
She played a pivotal role in ensuring equality in law. In 1970, she fought 6 cases during the women's rights movement and won 5! She made some landmark decisions and fought untiringly for women’s rights. She heavily criticized the riddance of a principal part of the Voting Rights Acts in 2013. She ordered the Virginia Military Institute to either start accepting women or give up its State funding. She was stubborn and headstrong, and won next to all her fights. Her dissenting opinions had brought her the zenith of stardom.
RBG was methodical and dedicated to her work. She never missed a single session or time at court till the age of 85, after which her health complications started getting in the way. She had to miss court for undergoing lung cancer surgery in 2018. She was extremely critical of the court and was outspoken about her opinions.
Apart from being a distinguished icon, she was also a light hearted and notorious lady. She admitted to occasionally dozing off during sessions.
This powerful, eminent feminist icon faced and won all the struggles in her way. She never let any obstacles stop her from gaining what she wanted. She stayed resilient in the times of adversity and did not let personal losses get in the way. However, cancer defeats even the strongest of people. RBG died of metastatic pancreatic cancer on 18th September 2020. She may not physically be present in the world anymore but she will always live on in our hearts. Her legacy will never be forgotten, and will rather be carried on by women all around the globe.
“My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” -RBG
Written by Risha Chaurasia from India
Comments