The Legacy left behind by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

“Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” Words spoken from the truly legendary, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The trailblazing icon was only the second female to serve on the Supreme Court and fought for women’s rights, and gender equality. Our generation of females owe the legal protection from discrimination to the litigator’s many years of work. On September 18, 2020 the heartbreaking news was let out regarding the passing of the Supreme Court Justice due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer at age 87. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s architecture of the women’s rights movement contributes to the remarkable impact she has left behind.

Ruth Joan Bader was raised in a low-income neighborhood located in the midst of Brooklyn. Ginsburg’s smarts were evident from the very beginning through her excellent scores in her studies and her diligence towards learning. After excelling throughout her primary, secondary, and high school years she attended Cornell University where she later graduated top in her class. After taking a few years as a gap for personal reasons, she soon returned to Harvard Law School where she encountered a male dominant environment. To no one’s surprise Ginsburg's academic history only skyrocketed from there, and became the first female member of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. She later transferred to Columbia Law School and graduated first in her class in 1959.

After her graduation she taught at Columbia Law School and was the first female tenured professor. During her time as the director of the Women’s Right project of he American Civil Liberties Union, she argued six landmark cases based upon gender equality. She successfully won a case before the Supreme Court on a portion of the Social Security Act. In 1993 Bill Clinton appointed Ginsburg to the U.S Supreme Court where she became the first Jewish female justice. As a judge she presented her voice strongly in favor of gender equality alongside the rights of workers and separation of church and state. In 1999 she won the American Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Award for her contributions to gender equality and civil rights.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg stands to be an idol and inspiration to the young generation of women as she fought for equality and rights for all. Her hard work and passion will never cease to amaze anyone. I admire her earnest attitude towards creating change, and it is a value I try to incorporate in my daily actions. Ruth Bader Ginsburg left behind an incredible legacy that deserves to be remembered.