Recently, Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg has become something of a feminist icon for many Americans. As a pre-law student who is studying political science, I often look to the R.B.G. for inspiration. Here are some of my favorite Ginsburg moments:
1. On how she wants her legacy to be remembered.
"Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. To do something, as my colleague David Souter would say, outside myself. ‘Cause I’ve gotten much more satisfaction for the things that I’ve done for which I was not paid." This quote comes from an interview with MSNBC.
2. On what feminism means to her.
"Feminism … I think the simplest explanation, and one that captures the idea, is a song that Marlo Thomas sang, 'Free to be You and Me.' Free to be, if you were a girl—doctor, lawyer, Indian chief. Anything you want to be. And if you’re a boy, and you like teaching, you like nursing, you would like to have a doll, that’s OK too. That notion that we should each be free to develop our own talents, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriers—manmade barriers, certainly not heaven sent." From an interview with Makers.
3. On criticism.
"I’m dejected, but only momentarily, when I can’t get the fifth vote for something I think is very important. But then you go on to the next challenge and you give it your all. You know that these important issues are not going to go away. They are going to come back again and again. There’ll be another time, another day." Via The Record
4. On Gender Equality.
"Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation." Via The Record.
5. On her mother's advice.
"My mother told me two things constantly. One was to be a lady, and the other was to be independent. The study of law was unusual for women of my generation. For most girls growing up in the '40s, the most important degree was not your B.A., but your M.R.S." Via ACLU.
6. On her fellow female Supreme Court justices.
"[W]hen I’m sometimes asked when will there be enough [women on the supreme court]? And I say ‘When there are nine.’ People are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that." Via CBS News.
7. On being rejected early in her career by firm who had already hired a woman.
“You think about what would have happened ... Suppose I had gotten a job as a permanent associate. Probably I would have climbed up the ladder and today I would be a retired partner. So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great good fortune.” Via Makers.
