As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I find myself reflecting on a important woman who has helped shape the world and myself. The name Ruth Bader Ginsburg stands out among even the most famous people. She’s a person I look up to and is a huge inspiration to many who hope to become lawyers.
Ginsburg, also known as the “Notorious RBG,” was a major force in the fight for gender equality. From the beginning, she faced obstacles that could have potentially pushed her back. Ginsburg was one of only nine women in her Harvard Law School class and still managed to finish at the top of her class, all while also balancing motherhood and supporting her husband through his cancer treatment. Despite facing constant sexism, Ginsburg stayed determined, and didn’t let of these obstacles pull her down.
What inspires me most about Ginsburg is the way she fought hard for women’s rights through her actions, not just her words. One of her biggest cases was Moritz v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (1972). In this case, Ginsburg, with the support of her husband, Marty Ginsburg, argued on the behalf of Charles Moritz, a man who was denied a tax deduction. Under Section 214 of Internal Revenue Code, at the time, the tax reduction was limited to women, widowers, divorcees or husbands whose wives were incapacitated. Moritz was never married and thus not eligible under the law as it was written. Ginsburg showed the court that gender based laws harm both men and women, and she won the case. This victory marked the beginning of her long fight to prove that gender discrimination shouldn’t exist in American law.
Ginsburg’s story reminds me that change doesn’t happen overnight. When she first began her legal career, women made up less than 5% of all lawyers in the U.S.; despite that, she eventually went on to serve as a Supreme Court Justice for 27 years of her life. Ginsburg didn’t shout or demand attention. Instead, she calmly proved all of her points through action when she stepped foot at the Supreme Court.
Ginsburg’s legacy pushes me to keep going, to stand firm on what I believe in and never settle for less than what I deserve as a woman. She showed me that being a strong woman doesn’t necessarily mean being loud, but rather, being smart and brave.
During Women’s History Month, I was reminded that the path I am able to walk today has been cleared by women such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her actions allow me to feel empowered to continue moving forward, no matter what stands in the way.
