Ruth Bader Ginsberg Melted the Pot for Women

By Sabeeta Bidasie Singh

Ruth Bader Ginsberg passed away last week, leaving some big shoes to fill. She captured our imagination in so many ways but her most profound mark was paving the way for women across the nation. Ruth had many interests including her love for opera, her late husband’s cooking and white-water rafting — even in her 70s. She kept a stack of her own t-shirts, including her favorite which said, “You can’t spell truth without Ruth”.

One of the quotes that moved me the most was when she said, “Fight for the things you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

Ruth’s most fervent wish was that she would not be replaced until a new president was elected — a wish that did not come to pass. She juggled a lot of the motherhood challenges working moms face. Her youngest of two children, James, got in trouble at school and the school decided to call her. Back then, a professor at Columbia Law School responded by stating “A child has two parents, please alternate the calls — it’s his father's turn”.

One after another she broke through barriers and created better opportunities for women. She fought battles for equality across the boardroom and in remuneration, reward and recognition for women, a woman’s right to abortion and fighting for widows to be equally entitled to property exemptions as widowers. Without question, Ruth’s political voice opened many doors. It would be difficult to imagine some of the opportunities we as women enjoy without being thankful for the work of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. 

As a young attorney in a Supreme Court case she only asked for what was fair, famously quoting abolitionist Sarah Grimké “ I ask no favor for my sex — only that men take their feet off our necks” not expecting any special privileges only a fair chance. It was at Columbia University that Ruth found a cause that would later consume her work — she became focused on putting women in the United States Constitution.

Though Ruth battled over two decades of cancer she still managed to work out twice a week with her personal trainer and never missed a day on the bench.

(Magnolia Pictures)

Ruth was fortunate to have found a lifelong partner in Martin Ginsburg during a time when wives were supposed to put their husbands needs before their own. Martin, also known as Marty, set the bar for a new generation of husbands to follow, and their marriage was one of equals. He supported Ruth when her career took off and made sure there was always dinner on the table for their two kids — Marty soon became a master of the kitchen. Before his death in 2010 it was reported Marty confided in a friend that the biggest achievement in his life was being an enabler to Ruth. 

Ruth’s love for the opera made her realize that she could not have everything she wanted in life and we must focus on our God given talents. She desperately wished she could be a diva performing in the opera but her constraint was her monotone. This is true for many of us women, we sometimes get delusional about our desires and it takes our focus away from our gifts that could impact change. Ruth was wise in deciding where her attention should be placed.

Ruth’s experiences were no different than mine and many other women, however Ruth found an avenue to have her voice heard. Ruth was quite emotional when she talked about the time her husband was posted in Oklahoma to complete his Army duties and she qualified for the civil service position, however, she was in her third trimester when she realized that her service rank was reduced along with her salary. Women have been overlooked for promotions due to being married or having children, which many women can relate to. Ruth used her experience to fuel her fight for women’s equality.

Though Ruth battled over two decades of cancer she still managed to work out twice a week with her personal trainer and never missed a day on the bench. Ruth Bader Ginsberg is a true hero on so many levels. Women look to her for leadership and direction. She was a fighter and never let her medical issues get in the way of her professional goals — thank you R.G.B.

You can follow Sabeeta on Twitter @Sabeeta1009.