Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg

Jurist, lawyer

Born: March 15, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.

Died: September 18, 2020 in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Nationality: American

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an American lawyer, jurist, and feminist icon who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020. Throughout her life and career, Ginsburg's extraordinary accomplishments and dedication to justice and equality made her a remarkable figure in American history.

Early Life and Education:

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1933, Ginsburg grew up in a working-class Jewish family. Despite facing discrimination and prejudice, she excelled academically and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in government in 1954. She then attended Harvard Law School, where she was one of only nine women in a class of over 500. Despite facing gender discrimination and being told by a dean that she was taking the place of a man who deserved it more, Ginsburg persevered and graduated in 1959.

Legal Career:

After law school, Ginsburg had difficulty finding employment due to her gender. She eventually secured a clerkship with a federal judge and then became a professor at Rutgers Law School. In 1972, she co-founded the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where she successfully argued several landmark cases before the Supreme Court that helped to expand women's rights and protect against gender discrimination.

Supreme Court Justice:

In 1993, President Bill Clinton nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, making her only the second woman to ever serve on the highest court in the land. During her 27-year tenure on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg was known for her fierce intellect, sharp wit, and unwavering commitment to justice and equality. She was a champion of women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, and many other issues that affect the most vulnerable members of society.

Legacy:

Ginsburg's legacy as a trailblazer for gender equality and women's rights cannot be overstated. Her work at the ACLU and on the Supreme Court paved the way for generations of women to come, and her commitment to justice and equality inspired people around the world. She was an extraordinary figure who will always be remembered for her contributions to the law, to society, and to the fight for justice and equality.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Children

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a really smart and brave lady who helped make the world a better place for girls and women. She was born in Brooklyn, New York a long time ago, in 1933. She was really good at school, even though some people didn't think girls could be smart. She went to law school and became a lawyer, which means she helped people with legal problems.

One of the things she did that was really amazing was to help fight for girls and women to be treated fairly. She started a group called the Women's Rights Project, and they went to court to help girls and women who were being treated unfairly. She argued in front of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land, and won a lot of important cases that helped girls and women have more rights and opportunities.

In 1993, she became a judge on the Supreme Court herself, which was a really big deal because she was only the second woman ever to be a judge there. She was a judge for a really long time, and she always tried to make sure that everyone was treated fairly and had the same opportunities, no matter who they were.

She was a really special lady who worked hard to make the world a better place for everyone, and we can learn a lot from her about being smart, brave, and kind to others.

Some Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quotes Explained

"Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception."

This quote is one of Ginsburg's most famous, and it highlights her lifelong commitment to gender equality. She believed that women should be represented in all fields and positions of power, and that women's perspectives and experiences are essential to making good decisions.

"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."

This quote speaks to Ginsburg's belief in the power of collaboration and building coalitions. She recognized that change is often slow and difficult, but that by working together and inspiring others to join in the fight, progress can be made.

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time."

This quote is a reminder that progress often happens gradually, through sustained effort and dedication. Ginsburg recognized that lasting change is not achieved overnight, but rather through consistent and deliberate action over time.

"I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks."

This quote is from a speech Ginsburg made in 1975, in which she challenged the idea that women needed special treatment or favors. Instead, she demanded that men recognize and relinquish their unjust power over women, and work to create a more equal and just society.

"Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation."

This quote highlights Ginsburg's belief that gender equality is not just about women having access to the same opportunities as men, but also about men taking on equal responsibility for caregiving and child-rearing. She recognized that until men and women share this responsibility equally, true gender equality cannot be achieved.

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