Have a look at how Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a supreme court justice faced challenges of inequality and cancer throughout her life.

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Have a look at how Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a supreme court justice faced challenges of inequality and cancer throughout her life.

Women are strong! not just in words but majorly in action. There are and were many great women in this world who has battled for woman rights. They have made the life of younger women much easier and comfortable. Thanks to those women who risked their lives to fight for women’s rights worldwide. One such woman is Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg supreme court justice — Image Source: Forbes.com

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the second woman to serve as an associate in the Supreme Court Justice of the United States. She served there from 1993 till her death in September 2020. Furthermore, she is also a pioneering advocate for women’s rights. Ruth was a trusted courtroom advocate for the treatment of women and to work in ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project.

Ruth was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1993 as a moderate judge. During her time in the Supreme Court, she wrote many opinions based on her cases, some notable opinions can be the United States v. Virginia, Friends of the Earth, Olmstead v. L.C., etc.

The young Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The original and full name of Ruth is Joan Ruth Bader. Ruth was born on March 15, 1993, in Brooklyn, New Tork, the U.S. She was the daughter of proud parents Nathan and Celia Bader. Ruth was the youngest of the two children. Ruth had a big sister named Marylin who unfortunately died at the age of 6 due to meningitis. Ruth was just 14 months when her sister passed away, so she was raised like a single child.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg education & determination

When Ruth started school, there was another student named Joan so Celia(Ruth’s mom) suggested using the name Ruth for her to avoid confusion. Since then people began calling her Ruth instead of Joan. Celia herself didn’t attend college but she was determined to make her daughter well educated. Celia’s education was limited to school. At that time, woman education was not important, that is why only Celia’s brother got to attend college instead of her.

This discrimination among men and women was graved in Ruth’s mind since childhood. Since Celia wasn’t able to get further studies, she focused on giving her daughter full education. Ruth always looked up to her mother as she was her major inspiration. Celia taught Ruth to be independent and strong from an early age. As a good daughter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg did well in her education.

Ruth joined James Madison High School in Brooklyn and excelled in her studies. She was focused on her studies for herself and her mother. She was magnificent in studies and always came first in class. Sadly, during Ruth’s high school days, her mother suffered from cancer. After being a cancer patient for four years Celia died just a day before Ruth’s graduation ceremony. Due to her mother’s death, Ruth couldn’t attend her own graduation ceremony.

After graduation, Ruth joined Cornell University on full scholarship taking government as major. Ruth always managed to become the top student of her class This is where she met Martin Ginsburg(her future husband). The two were extremely interested in intellectual pursuits. Ruth also met the other two professors who helped her shape her career in law. They were author Vladimir Babokov and lawyer Robert Cushman.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg husband Martin and family

After just 9 days of graduating from Cornell, Martin and Ruth got married in June 1954.

After marriage, Martin was drafted away for the military in 1954. The first two years of marriage were tough for Ruth as she was already pregnant. In absence of her husband, she had to handle everything on her own. Shortly after her husband’s departure, Ruth gave birth to her first baby girl ‘Jane’. After two years, Martin was discharged from the military and came back to his family.

At this point, Ruth had already enrolled at Harvard as a law student. She had to balance her life as a mother as well as a student. She was also challenged by the male-dominant society and environment in her college. There were more than 500 people in her class among which only 8 were girls. There was a huge gap between males and females in society.

Women were discouraged to study. If people saw women excel at something then society would scold them or discourage them. Ruth had to go through all these challenges but she was determined to change the face of society. Facing discrimination and hatred, Ruth excelled academically and eventually became the first female member of the Harvard Law Review. Martin also resumed his studies.

In 1956, Yet another challenge emerged as her husband Martin suffered from testicular cancer. Martin required intense treatment and care. In the time of need, Ruth was always beside Martin and helped him every day. At this point, Ruth was looking after her daughter, her husband, and her studies.

Thankfully, Martin recovered from cancer and completed his studies. He graduated from law school and started a job at the New York law firm.

To be together with her husband, Ruth transferred to Columbia Law School. She again served as a law review and graduated with a top score in her class in 1959.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Gender Equality Fights

Despite her excellent academic records, she struggled to land on a decent job. While searching for employment as a lawyer, she encountered huge gender discrimination. At that time, very few women were working, and even fewer in a law career. Countably there were 2 women who served as federal judges.

One of her professors from Colombia decided to help her. He convinced the U.S district court to offer Ruth a clerkship. Ruth clerked from 1959-1961. Later she started teaching at Rutgers University and Columbia University from 1963- 1980. While working, she had to work on less salary because her husband was earning well.

After a while, she became pregnant again. She had to hide her pregnancy wearing oversized clothes in the fear that her contract would not be renewed. Then she gave birth to her second child ‘James’, in 1965.

During the 1970s, Ruth became the director of the Women’s Rights Project. The project was of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In 1972, she became the founding counsel of ACLU. in the same year, she also became the permanent female faculty member of Columbia Law School. Ruth also wrote dozens of articles on the topic of gender discrimination.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg didn’t just fight for women’s rights but for equal rights. Before joining the U.S. Supreme court, ruth argued on about six landmark gender equality cases. Among those cases, she won five such right related cases. One case was a part of the Social Security Act. in which widows received a certain benefit whereas widowers didn’t.

By this time, Ruth was already a leading figure in gender discrimination and equal rights litigation.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg supreme court justice

In 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the U.S courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia in Washinton D.C. while serving as a judge she gave attention to small details and enjoyed her job. She developed relationships with the people involved and maintained professional relationships with other judges on the court.

In 1993, she delivered a famous case related to the right of women to choose to have an abortion. In the same year 1993, June 14 President Bill Clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the supreme court justice to replace Byron White on his retirement.

who appointed ruth bader ginsburg — Image Source: tampabay.com

On August 3, 1993, Ruth won the nomination by a total vote of 96-3. Officially, Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the Supreme Court Justice in 1993. In the supreme court, Ruth was active and very observant. Soon she became well known for her oral argument, active participation, and her well-mannered clothing style. She always proceeded with caution, moderation, and restraint. Ruth also wrote the majority’s opinion in the United States v. Virginia in 1996. Through time, Ruth bonded well with the first woman appointed to Supreme Court Sandra Day O’Connor.

In the same year 1996, Ruth won the Thurgood Marshall Award from American Bar Association for her contributions and roles in supporting gender equality and civil rights.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg husband Martin’s Death

Ruth’s husband died of cancer on June 27, 2010. The couple was happily married for 56 years. Ruth admired her husband and was always thankful for him being in her life. She said that Martin was her life’s biggest booster. Even after her husband’s death, Ruth was back to work the next day.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg accomplishments

In 2015, Ruth took the side of two landmark Supreme Court rulings.
On June 25th, 2015 she became one of the six justices on a critical component of the 2010 Affordable Care Act
Ruth Bader Ginsburg also supported same-sex marriage by challenging arguments during cases.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg health update & death

Ruth Bader Ginsburg had several health problems. Time to time she had to undergo surgeries for colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer. In November 2018 she was hospitalized after falling which broke her 3 ribs.

In May 2020, she was again hospitalized to go through treatment for gallbladder infection. She was also going through chemotherapy treatment for her cancer.

ruth bader ginsburg health — Image Source: bbc.com

Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, 2020, due to complications in pancreatic cancer. She died peacefully at the age of 87 in her home, Washington D.C.

Conclusion

Ruth Bader Ginsburg faced a lot of complications in her life. Whether it was gender discrimination or cancer, she was strong to face her problems. She bravely fought against gender discrimination in a biased society. Her life story can inspire millions of people around the globe. She taught us never to give up and do what you love no matter how hard things might get.