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Apr
11
I agree.
From a New York Times article that covers SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s appearance yesterday at OSU’s law school in honor of her 15 years on the bench, to be published in print tomorrow:
Justice Ginsburg also discussed her career as an advocate, one that included six Supreme Court arguments and a role in shaping the language of the law. She helped introduce the term “gender discrimination” as a synonym for “sex discrimination,” she said, explaining that her secretary had proposed the idea while typing a brief to be submitted to male judges.
“ ‘The first association of those men with the word “sex” is not what you’re talking about,’ ” the secretary said, Justice Ginsburg recalled. “ ‘Why don’t you use a grammar-book term? Use gender. It has a neutral sound, and it will ward off distracting associations.’ ”
Justice Ginsburg expressed dismay at being the only woman on the Supreme Court. “There I am all alone,” she said, “and it doesn’t look right.”
I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing her for myself in person, but I can just imagine the truth behind this quote from Chief Justice Roberts, also in the NYT piece:
Justice Ginsburg turned 76 last month and underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in February. Here on Friday, she was energetic, enthusiastic and characteristically precise in her answers to questions from two law professors in a 90-minute conversation. She spoke mostly about her career as a litigator specializing in women’s rights and her years on the court.
In a videotaped tribute, Chief Justice Roberts described Justice Ginsburg’s work habits — including her “total disregard for the normal day-night work schedule adhered to by everyone else since the beginning of recorded history” — and congratulated her for reaching what he said was the midpoint of her career on the court.
I hope that is all true. Many thanks to her for her service, dedication and tenacity.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:22 pm April 11th, 2009 in Courts, Gender, Law, leadership, Sexism, Women
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3 Responses to “Justice Ginsburg: “There I am all alone…and it doesn’t look right””
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What does a woman have to do to break the gender barrier? It’s so daunting the hold that men have on, well, everything except birth and dirty cleaning work. Bastions, too many bastions around and for far too long. Here’s to some more women on the bench with the gavel.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Laura – I agree. It feels like Sisyphus so much of the time. Honestly, that’s one of the reasons I’m running for city council, because we just have to get out there and keep trying.
I wish I could vote for you. Here’s to hoping for a victory for you!