Sadly, we recently lost Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was and always will be an inspiration. She fought hard throughout her career to ensure that we have all equal rights under the law.
We are forever grateful for her courage and strength to stand up for the less fortunate and we’ll try to learn as much as possible from the way she lived her life.
Why Ruth Bader Ginsburg Was a Model and Inspiration
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a brilliant and fearless woman who made legal history when she was in her 20’s despite facing serious obstacles. She worked her way to becoming the second woman to be a Supreme Court Justice when she was 60. From her seat, she fought against all types of discrimination that came before her. She is the reason why women now can get a mortgage and why we are making strides towards equal pay.
These outstanding achievements turned her into a pop-cultural icon that inspired millions to follow their dreams. She can be an inspiration to you too, whatever obstacle you face.
How Ruth Bader Ginsburg Overcame the Obstacles in Her Life
Maybe it’s hard for you to imagine how RBG had to overcome obstacles. After all, she did go to prestigious law schools and was happily married. But RBG’s older sister died when she was a baby and her mother died when she was 17, soon before she graduated from high school. Then, in 1956, she went to Harvard Law School where she was one of 9 women in a class of 500 men. Times were very different then, before the era of political correctness. The dean of Harvard Law had all the female students over for dinner, reportedly asking each of them, “Why are you at Harvard Law School, taking the place of a man?”
Although she was the first woman to be on the Law Review of Harvard and Columbia and was at the top of her class, she was rejected by every law firm where she applied because of discrimination. She was a Jewish woman who was also a mother. Remember, in those days you couldn’t even open a bank account unless a man cosigned. So, she ended up teaching law instead of practicing it.
Her life was full of health challenges. After losing her older sister and mother at a young age, her husband suffered from cancer after their first child was born. Then, in 1999, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was only the first of her 5 experiences with cancer. Her husband died 10 years before she did. This year, RBG died from complications from pancreatic cancer at the age of 87.
Gloria Steinem said that we can honor her by asking ourselves, “What would Ruth do?”
What did Ruth do when she faced discrimination and couldn’t get a job in a law firm? She persevered. She found a way to stand up for herself and millions of other women and began to end that kind of gender discrimination. She argued against discrimination against male plaintiffs and won. She realized that men might be able to better understand such unfairness if they could relate to it happening to them. She began to convince the all-male Supreme Court that gender stereotypes hurt both men and women.
What did Ruth do when she faced health problems herself or with her loved ones? She hung in there and took care of herself and her loved ones. When her husband got cancer in law school, she went to his classes to help him keep up. She was hospitalized several times and had chemotherapy, but she never gave up and continued pursuing her goals and fighting for what she believed in.
What did Ruth do when she saw unfairness? She dissented. That means she reached a conclusion that’s different than the majority of other judges. She worked to find a way to express her thoughts and beliefs in a way that other people were most likely to understand. As a lawyer and judge, she created rational, logical arguments.
It takes courage to stand up for yourself and to keep pursuing your dreams when faced with adversity and the odds seem to be stacked against you. Ruth knew she had a lot to offer and didn’t let the barriers to success stop her from moving forward.
The Key Lesson Here: Don’t Give up When Things Get Hard
Even in her death, RBG is an inspiration and a catalyst for change. If there’s one thing you can learn from her life and career is to do everything in your power to achieve your dreams and stand up for what you believe is right. Believe in yourself that you can push through whatever obstacle is stopping you from reaching your goals right now.
What obstacles are facing you? Do you persevere even though it seemingly feels hopeless? How can you let Ruth inspire you? Leave us a message below.