Mrs. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, was the second woman in the United States appointed to the Supreme Court.  After serving on the Supreme Court for 27 years, Mrs. Ginsburg passed away September 18.  Through her service, Mrs. Ginsburg demonstrated the power of women and the importance of gender equality to Sacred Heart Greenwich students. 

Intersections, a student-run club at Sacred Heart, helps foster conversation about relevant current issues.  During each meeting, the main goal is to facilitate an open discussion with peers about an important topic, such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) rights, gender inequality, and feminism.  Sacred Heart sophomore Kristin Morrow, Vice President of Intersections, gave insight into Mrs. Ginsburg’s many influential qualities.

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a role model and an inspiration,” Kristin said.  “She showed me it is okay to disagree and taught me to speak up when things are wrong.  I learned that I can have a different opinion.  I was inspired by how she stood up for everyone’s rights even though they did not impact her.  She not only fought for women, but for men and the LGBTQ+ community, teaching me that people should never be denied a place because of their gender.”

Former President Bill Clinton nominated Mrs. Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993, making her the second woman to serve in the United States’ highest court.  On the Supreme Court, she was an advocate for women and defied stereotypes of women’s roles in society.  During her 27 years on the Supreme Court, Mrs. Ginsburg’s work changed the field of jobs for women and emphasized gender equality for all. 

“She constantly upheld the idea that women belong anywhere men belong,”  Kristin said, referencing Mrs. Ginsburg’s well-known quote, stating, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” 

Mrs. Ginsburg led the fight against gender discrimination and successfully argued six cases before the Supreme Court, winning five of them, according to oyez.org.  While on the court, Mrs. Ginsburg wrote for the majority opinion in United States v. Virginia Supreme Court case in 1996.  The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) was an all-male undergraduate public university, claiming that it was an unsuitable institution for women.  Mrs. Ginsburg stated that VMI’s gender-exclusive admission policy violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, according to britannica.com.  As a result of Mrs. Ginsburg’s work, VMI began admitting women in 1997, meaning all-male public universities no longer existed in the United States.

Mrs. Ginsburg attended Harvard University Law School, where she was one of nine women in her graduating class of 500 and was constantly told that she was undeserving of her spot, according to npr.org.  After transferring from Harvard, Mrs. Ginsburg became the first law student to work for two major university journals, and in 1959, she graduated first in her class at Columbia University.  In 2011, Harvard University Law School awarded her with an honorary degree for her work fighting for gender equality, according to The New York Times.

Mrs. Ginsburg was an advocate for many important issues regarding gender discrimination.  She encouraged conversation, even when it did not benefit her.  Kristin and the other members of Intersections carry on her legacy by doing the same in the Sacred Heart community.

“She was an 87-year-old woman on the Supreme Court who dealt with three types of cancer,” Kristin said.  “She lost her mother before her graduation, and her husband, though she still went to court the next day, managing to come back and fight.  I learned from her to keep fighting even though it’s hard sometimes.  You shouldn’t stop protesting for people’s rights just because yours are not in danger.” 

Featured Image Courtesy of Mr. Andrew Kelly