The Notorious RBG

On September 18, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bater Ginsburg passed away, a trail blazer for women in government. The Anna Wintour of politics, Justice Ginsburg has made her mark on the U.S. government. RBG will be remembered for her strides in women’s rights, among other things.

“She created a field of law that is respected and practiced today. Constitutional protection against gender discrimination was not even recognized when Justice Ginsburg started practicing law,” AP Government teacher Mrs. Meyeringh said.

She was a minority in the classroom throughout her Ivy league education after pursuing a once male-dominated career in law. After graduating, Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. There, she made changes to increase women’s role in society. So basic, these freedoms are frequently overlooked. Only after Ginsburg, women could pay for mortgages and open bank accounts without a male present, participate in juries, and attend public colleges. Because of RBG, girls can attend state schools like the University of Florida.

“In fact, although she graduated top of her class at Columbia law, not a single law firm wanted to hire her because she was a married woman with children and the prevailing attitude was that if a woman was married, she would not need to work. She paved the way for generations of female lawyers like myself, and for that I am forever grateful,” said Meyeringh.

Mrs. Meyeringh is arguably Justice Ginsburg’s biggest fan. She emphasizes that a political powerhouse like RBG is extremely important for a primarily female community. Ginsburg is a symbol that a woman can achieve just as much, or more, than a man can in any industry.

“We can learn so many lessons from the life of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Each year, my AP Government class chooses a movie to watch on “Movie Night” and her Documentary “RBG” is a popular choice every year. In the movie, you can see how influential this justice was on so many levels, but I will focus on my favorite three,” said Meyeringh.

After considering all of Justice Ginsburg’s achievements in the Supreme Court, Mrs. Meyeringh considers the impact Ginsburg had on her.

“My favorite lesson of all is to find a “Marty.” Justice Ginsberg met her husband in law school. He was diagnosed with cancer while they were there, and she went to his classes and took notes for him. He was a year older than her in law school, so when he graduated and got a job in NYC, she was willing to transfer from Harvard Law to Columbia for his job. After many years of Marty encouraging Ruth to pursue her career and to follow her dream, her opportunity came when she was nominated to the federal bench in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Marty Ginsberg put his wife’s career first, which was novel for his time (and ours),” Meyeringh said.

“Rumor has it that while President Bill Clinton was considering many nominees for the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by Justice Byron White, it was Marty’s letters and faxes (which he sent to the White House with frequency) praising his brilliant wife that really tipped the scales in Ruth’s favor, making her only the second female ever appointed to the highest court in our country. All this to say – find a Marty. Find a partner who loves you not just for your looks, but your brain and your heart. Because while looks fade, your heart and brain can only get better with age, and you want the kind of life partner that recognizes this,” Meyeringh said.

Justice Ruth Bater Ginsburg’s legacy is remembered far beyond her accomplishments in the Court. She is a model for women to pursue their independence and find people who empower them.