While thinking of ideas to write about for this article I thought I would do a piece on women who made a difference this year. “Great” I thought, I’ll start with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and then move on to the next. That’s not what happened. I was so awestruck at the accomplishments of this incredible symbol of female badassness that I couldn’t move past her. Ginsberg has accomplished a great many things in her 82-year-old life that people do not know enough about. I’ve complied some of her larger accomplishments here, but I strongly encourage every reader to do some research of their own on this impressive woman because I couldn’t possibly tell you in one article all the strides she’s made.
- She was one of only eight other females in her college class of over 500 students. A group of woman that the dean hated because they “took the place of qualified males.” I like to think that she succeeded in spite of men like him.
- After graduating, she became the first woman to become part of the Harvard Law Review (and still somehow managed to be subject to discrimination from most of the men in her professional life).
- Her husband Martin developed testicular cancer in 1956, requiring intensive treatment and rehabilitation. Ruth was still a student herself while taking care of her young daughter and very ill husband all at one time. She took notes for him in classes while she continued her own law studies. Real life superwoman.
- Second woman ever to be appointed to be a supreme court justice! Appointed as a justice in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter Ruth continues to serve and at 82 years old still has no plans to retire.
- Fought countless landmark cases for women’s right to be treated equally, especially in workplace environments.
- Said that her husband Martin was her biggest booster and "the only young man I dated who cared that I had a brain." I can imagine that’s why they were married 56 years before his death.
- One of Ginsburg's most famous accomplishments though was this year, 2015. She is a major supporter of Obergefell v. Hodge, the same-sex marriage decision. She argued for it frequently and was a large part of why the bill got so far and eventually passed! Another victory for Ginsburg and what she believes in.
