On September 18, 2020 the United States felt a shift as one of the most influential figures in the women’s movement passed away. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme-Court justice and Feminist icon, passed away at 87 from health issues revolving around metastatic pancreatic cancer. Throughout all parts of the country, grief was not bound by political party or partisanship, rather, the nation mourned as the Notorious RBG’s journey came to an end.
RBG’s extensive legal career was marked by historic accomplishments in- specifically, but not limited to- women’s rights and gender equality. Below, you will find some of the most influential Supreme Court decisions and efforts that RBG was a part of that defined her legacy and solidified her as an American idol.
- United States v. Virginia
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In this particular court case, the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)- a public military college in Virginia- was known for exclusively accepting only males into their program. The VMI claimed that women were not suited for the physical challenges of its institution, and suggested instead to formulate a less-rigorous and less-intense military college for women. In 1996, the case made its way to the Supreme Court, where RBG eventually wrote the majority opinion that found that the admission policy at VMI was unconstitutional. Her brief essentially stated that the VMI curriculum is not unsuitable for women, and that any inherent differences cited by the institution between both sexes does not constitute discrimination, rather a celebration of universal distinctions.
Justice Ginsburg’s efforts in this case highighted how gender discrimination against women does not extend to physical differences, and that both groups should be regarded as equal.
- Reed v. Reed
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In 1971, RBG wrote the plaintiff brief in a civil dispute between a husband and wife- Cecil and Sally Reed- who had been separated at the time of their son’s death. While Sallywas first to file a petition to serve as the administrator of his estate, her estranged husband was automatically approved due to an Idaho statute that outlined that males are to be preferred over females when there are more than a single qualified person to administer an estate.
RBG in her brief, argued that this violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The court struck down the statute and this marked the very first time in which the Equal Protection Clause had been applied in a gender-related case. Throughout her career, many of the decisions made by Justice Ginsburg aided in solidifying the influence and validity of the fourteenth amendement.
- Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
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Unlike the aforementioned cases, Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. focused on the issue of equal pay for equal work. A former Goodyear employee, Lily Ledbetter, had begun at her previous position earning the same salary as her male counterparts, but subsequently learned throughout her tenure that she made thousands less than other men in the company who were assigned the same tasks and responsibilities. She sued Goodyear on the basis of the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which specifies that employers may not discriminate on account of gender.
The court, however, centered on whether or not Ledbetter had the right to take legal action years after the event. The court held a 5-4 majority against Ledbetter, but RBG disagreed and outlined in her dissent in 2007 that the time limits outlined by the Civil Rights Act should not apply in cases of gender-based discrimination, as it can happen gradually. She argued that compensation differences are not easily noticed as they are usually kept from public knowledge. Her leadership and influence eventually led to President Obama’s signing of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which amended the statute of limitations on pay lawsuits.
- Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt
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In this 2016 case, RBG fought firmly in favor of a woman’s right to choose. It was ruled that Texas does not have the ability to retrict abortion services that will burden women who seek out said procedure. In her concurrence, she outlined that the original Texas law was beyond rational belief. No other justce at the time signed on to her concurrence, marking another historic moment when RBG stood for women’s rights, even when it was not the popular opinion.
This list only details four instances where RBG stood for women’s rights, but in her life-long history of defending women, her efforts will always be remembered and live on within every American heart. To honor her legacy, we must continue to respect and push for gender equality in this tumultuous political climate. So when the time comes to vote for your legislators, make sure to use your voice by voting for those who you believe will help protect all women in all facets of life. We owe it to RBG to speak out on injustices in the same way she did during her long 87 years.
Rest in peace Justice Ginsburg.