ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Biographics Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Supreme Court Justice, Champion of Women
Welcome to an engaging exploration of the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a towering figure in the legal world despite her petite stature. Known affectionately as RBG, she was the second woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court and left an indelible mark on the fight for gender equality and civil rights.
Born on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, Ruth Bader grew up in a Jewish household. Her parents, Nathan and Celia Bader, instilled in her the importance of education. Tragically, Ruth’s older sister, Marilyn, passed away when Ruth was just a toddler, leading her mother to focus intensely on Ruth’s education. Celia, who had been unable to pursue higher education herself, was determined that Ruth would have the opportunities she did not.
Ruth excelled academically, earning scholarships and participating in extracurricular activities like baton twirling and playing in the school orchestra. Her mother passed away just before Ruth’s high school graduation, but Ruth continued to honor her mother’s wishes by pursuing higher education.
Ruth attended Cornell University, where she met Martin Ginsburg, whom she married shortly after graduating with a degree in government. Both Ruth and Martin aspired to become lawyers, and Ruth enrolled at Harvard Law School. At Harvard, she was one of only nine women in a class of 500 men and faced significant gender-based challenges.
When Martin accepted a job in New York City, Ruth transferred to Columbia Law School, graduating at the top of her class in 1959. Despite her academic achievements, she faced discrimination in the job market due to her gender and status as a mother. Eventually, she secured a clerkship with Judge Edmund L. Palmieri, which marked the beginning of her illustrious legal career.
Ruth returned to academia as a research associate at Columbia and later became a professor at Rutgers Law School. In 1971, she co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and became its General Counsel in 1973. Through her work with the ACLU, she argued several landmark cases that advanced gender equality, including Frontiero v. Richardson and Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld. She also played a pivotal role in the historic Roe v. Wade case.
In 1980, Ruth was appointed to the District of Columbia Circuit Court, and in 1993, President Bill Clinton nominated her to the Supreme Court. As the second woman and the first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg was known for her calm and respectful approach to the law. Her tenure was marked by significant contributions to civil rights and gender equality.
Despite personal challenges, including the loss of her husband Martin in 2010 and her own battles with cancer, Ruth remained dedicated to her work on the Supreme Court until her passing on September 18, 2020, at the age of 87.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy is profound and far-reaching. Her decisions and advocacy have had a lasting impact on the U.S. legal system, particularly in the areas of gender equality and civil rights. Her life and work continue to inspire generations of legal professionals and activists.
Thank you for joining this exploration of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s remarkable life. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the enduring fight for justice and equality.
Choose one of the landmark cases Ruth Bader Ginsburg was involved in, such as Frontiero v. Richardson or Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld. Conduct in-depth research on the case, its background, Ginsburg’s role, and its impact on gender equality. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting the significance of the case in the context of Ginsburg’s legacy.
Participate in a structured debate on the progress of gender equality in the legal system since Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s tenure. Form teams to argue either for or against the notion that significant progress has been made. Use historical and contemporary examples to support your arguments, and reflect on Ginsburg’s contributions to the ongoing fight for equality.
Write a creative piece imagining a day in the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg during a pivotal moment in her career. Focus on her thoughts, challenges, and motivations. Share your piece with classmates to explore different perspectives on her life and work, and discuss how her experiences shaped her approach to law and justice.
Organize a panel discussion with classmates to explore the impact of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy on modern legal practices and civil rights. Invite guest speakers, such as law professors or practicing attorneys, to provide insights. Engage in a Q&A session to deepen your understanding of how her work continues to influence the legal landscape today.
Watch a documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life and career, such as “RBG” or “On the Basis of Sex.” After the screening, write a reflection on how the documentary enhanced your understanding of her contributions to gender equality and civil rights. Discuss your reflections in small groups, focusing on the key takeaways and their relevance to current social justice issues.
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Welcome back to Biographics! I’m your host, Cosmic, and today’s protagonist is none other than Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court. This episode was written by James CJ, and if James has provided links to us, they’ll be linked alongside my own.
With that said, let’s go ahead and dive into it, shall we? When it comes to the Supreme Court, many names remain etched in the history books, but perhaps none are as significant as that of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Despite her petite stature, RBG remains a giant in the legal world. Even in the years following her death, her legacy is still being reckoned with today. For over five decades, Ginsburg defied the odds, fighting inequality wherever she found it, whether in her personal life or the cases she handled. She changed the world in more ways than one might imagine and gained a reputation for being one of the sharpest judges on the bench.
There’s so much to tell when considering the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but ultimately we must start where we typically do: at the beginning.
On March 15, 1933, Joan Ruth Bader was born in Brooklyn, NYC, at Beth Moses Hospital as the second daughter of Nathan and Celia Bader. Ruth grew up in a Jewish household in Flatbush, NYC. Throughout her life, Ginsburg’s relationship with Judaism was a topic of discussion. While her extended family was not devout, her immediate family was more involved in religion and attended a conservative synagogue, East Midwood Jewish Center.
The young Bader family experienced tragedy early on when Ruth’s older sister, Marilyn, died at the age of six after getting sick. Ginsburg was only 14 months old at the time and had no actual memory of her sister. Following her sister’s passing, Ruth began to receive her mother’s full attention, especially regarding her education.
When her mother discovered that her class had several Joans, she made everyone refer to her by her second name to avoid confusion, and it stuck. Much of Celia’s attention to Ruth’s education stemmed from her own experiences as a good student who could not progress academically due to her family choosing to send her brother to college instead. Celia wanted her daughter to have a future that included higher education.
Ruth did exceptionally well in high school, thanks to her mother’s unwavering support. She achieved prestigious college scholarships, was a baton twirler, and played in the school orchestra. Tragically, Celia passed away just two days before Ruth was set to graduate.
By the end of the summer of 1950, Ruth and her father moved from their home in Flatbush. Nathan Bader’s emotional state was deteriorating, worsened by the economic collapse he was enduring. Ruth continued her education, receiving a scholarship to attend Cornell University, where she met Martin Ginsburg on a blind date in 1950. They married a month after Ruth’s graduation in June 1954.
Ruth earned a BA in government and was the top-ranked woman in her graduating class. After marrying, they both aspired to become lawyers. Ruth enrolled at Harvard Law School, where she was one of only nine women in a class of 500 men. During her time at Harvard, she faced challenges, including being asked why she was taking a man’s place in law school.
Ruth transferred to Columbia Law School when Martin was offered a job in New York City. She graduated in 1959, tying for first in her class. Despite her achievements, she faced difficulties finding a job due to her gender and status as a mother. Eventually, she gained a clerkship for Judge Edmund L. Palmieri.
Ruth returned to Columbia in 1961 to work as a research associate and later became a professor at Rutgers Law School. She co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU in 1971 and became its General Counsel in 1973. Ginsburg represented several landmark cases, including Frontiero v. Richardson and Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld, and played a significant role in the Roe v. Wade case.
In 1980, Ginsburg was nominated to the District of Columbia Circuit Court and confirmed shortly thereafter. On June 14, 1993, she was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton, becoming the second woman and the first Jewish woman to serve on the bench.
Ginsburg’s tenure on the Supreme Court was marked by her calm and respectful approach to the law. She faced personal challenges, including the passing of her husband, Martin, in 2010, and her own battles with cancer. Despite calls for her retirement, she continued to serve on the court until her passing on September 18, 2020, at the age of 87.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy is undeniable. Her time on the Supreme Court had immense consequences for the current state of the U.S. legal system, and her decisions continue to impact the fight for gender equality and civil rights.
I hope you found this video informative. If you did, be sure to engage with the content, and I’ll see you next time!
Ruth – A quality of showing compassion or pity, often used in historical contexts to describe leaders or figures who demonstrated empathy and concern for others. – The ruler’s ruth was evident in her policies that prioritized the welfare of her people.
Bader – In historical contexts, often refers to a surname, notably associated with influential figures in government or law. – Bader’s contributions to the legal system have been studied extensively in university courses on judicial history.
Ginsburg – Referring to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a prominent figure in the U.S. Supreme Court known for her work on gender equality and civil rights. – Ginsburg’s opinions and dissents have become essential readings in courses on constitutional law.
Government – The system or group of people governing an organized community, often a state, and its role in shaping historical events and policies. – The government’s decision to implement new educational reforms was a turning point in the country’s history.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university, and its impact on societal development and historical change. – The expansion of public education in the 19th century played a crucial role in the industrialization of many nations.
Equality – The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities, and its significance in historical movements and government policies. – The fight for racial equality has been a central theme in American history, influencing legislation and social change.
Rights – Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement, which have been central to historical debates and government actions. – The Bill of Rights remains a foundational document in understanding the evolution of civil liberties in the United States.
Advocacy – The act or process of supporting a cause or proposal, especially in the context of historical movements for social or political change. – Advocacy for women’s suffrage was a pivotal movement that reshaped the political landscape in the early 20th century.
Justice – The quality of being just, impartial, or fair, often discussed in historical contexts regarding legal systems and government actions. – The pursuit of justice has been a driving force behind many historical reforms and revolutions.
Legacy – Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor, often used to describe the lasting impact of historical figures or events. – The legacy of the civil rights movement continues to influence contemporary discussions on equality and justice.
