ICRW Tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
September 25th, 2020
“Ruth combined unique qualities of mind and heart. A brilliant brain stressing logic and reason, relentless pursuit of a principled goal, precision, persistence, and an enormous capacity for hard work were her hallmarks — no flourishes or exaggerations just the facts. Small talk and a wish to talk were not among her attributes; so sitting next to her would not guarantee flowing conversation. Silence did not bother her. It was better than talking mindlessly. This was combined with an appreciation of humor and of the absurd — shared with Marty, her beloved husband, whose appreciation of her and of the absurd was boundless. A note found by his bed “Please see that Ruth eats after I die, she may forget.” Let’s remember that she appeared in court to hear cases the next day. Remember her laughter in RBG seeing Kate McKinnon play her on SNL. She loved opera and music — as did Nino and if someone shared a passion, he or she could be a dear friend. She was as careful with people as she was with opinions. Her manners were as impeccable as her clothes. She was always dignified even in sweat pants She was sweet to children. She invited me and my 12-year-old grandson, Eli, to view her wonderful ruff collection. She agreed to meet the 8yo daughter of a hospital colleague, a mini-Ruth, at Halloween (along with thousands of other little girls). Just two weeks ago [from this September 23rd reflection], she organized a small ‘RBG’ T-shirt be sent to our new grandson, Stevie, designating him a RBG ‘Grand Clerk.’ Recognizing the T-shirt would be too big for an infant, she noted perhaps his half-brother, Ryan, could wear it until Stevie grew into it. (How did she find his name, but that was Ruth). We will so miss her.” ~ Joanna Breyer, ICRW Board emerita and member of the ICRW Leadership Council
“Today, I write not as the president of ICRW but as the wife of a naturalized U.S. citizen who came to esteem the intellect and ethos of Justice Ginsburg, an ardent advocate for immigrant rights. When Kambou and I met RBG in 2016 at an ICRW event honoring her legacy, we were both starstruck. A smidge over five feet tall and larger than life. Kindness and grace personified. My husband beamed when introduced and will forever treasure the memory of exchanging a word or two with her. For it was Justice Ginsburg who famously said at a naturalization ceremony for new citizens, ‘We are a nation made strong by people like you.’ We will miss this guiding light who revealed time and again how to perfect our United States of America. May her soul depart sweetly and gently from this earth.” ~ Dr. Sarah Degnan Kambou, President, ICRW
“Twenty years ago I was leading a large team at a prominent nonprofit, and four of my seven direct reports started families at more or less the same time. They were all men. Their backgrounds might not have prepared them for the idea of Dads changing diapers: one had a Central American background — one was a practicing Muslim — one grew up on a ranch and would have been a cowboy if not for allergies. But we had a paternity leave policy, and every one of them used it — skeptically at first, then enthusiastically. It was an RBG moment. Ruth Bader Ginsburg pioneered the idea of equal opportunity parental leave. Providing the legal framework to support fathers as well as mothers wasn’t just an intellectual imperative for her — it was a lived reality. (And one that COVID-bound parents today can appreciate more than any previous generation.) She taught us not just how to open our eyes to past-based, legalistic limitations, but why. Women should not be barred from attending a particular college because of ‘overbroad generalizations about the different talents, capacities, or preferences of males and females.’ People with mental disabilities, who can handle and benefit from community settings, should be allowed; not to do so ‘perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that [such persons]… are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life.’ Men should not be denied Social Security survivor benefits, not just because a ‘surviving father may have the same need for benefits as a surviving mother’ but because ‘gender lines in the law are bad for everyone: bad for women, bad for men, and bad for children.’ RBG’s famous dictum that ‘discrimination against males operates against females as well’ — which could be expanded to cover other binary, zero-sum ways of viewing society — grasped the central human point that diminishing prospects for any of us impoverishes prospects for all of us. This wisdom was missing from Dred Scott, and Plessy v. Ferguson, and Korematsu v. United States. May it never be missing again.” ~ Elizabeth Griffith, Chair emerita, ICRW Board of Directors
“The passing away of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an irreversible loss to all the things we stand for and value. I am so proud that ICRW had such a wonderful close association with her. We benefitted from her wisdom and grace and learnt so much from her. She will continue to inspire us at ICRW, and me personally.” ~ Dr. Ravi Verma, Director, ICRW Asia
“I didn’t sleep much last weekend, but then who did? Waking up to a world without RBG was just so sad and unsettling. When I heard the news I thought, she must be so mad at herself for having died before the election. I am struck today by her view on dissenting opinions. She said that dissent speaks to a future age. That dissenters are writing not for today but for tomorrow. I hope that this is true but I also worry that a new court will make this too true, for all the opinions where RBG was in the majority.” ~Julie T. Katzman, ICRW Board emerita
“I had the honor of meeting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg more than a decade before she became a hashtag and a cultural icon. I remember being awe-struck and tongue-tied in her presence, but finally was able to say the one thing that I so desperately wanted to communicate: Thank you! I felt a deep sense of gratitude to her for the work that she had already done to advance women’s rights and gender equality in my adopted country. As far back as 1972, way before it was a part of the academic or public discourse, Justice Ginsburg understood that rigid gender norms have negative consequences for women and men. In the famous case of Charles E. Moritz vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, she successfully argued that as an unmarried man caring for his invalid mother, Charles Moritz was a victim of sex discrimination if he was denied a tax deduction reserved for caregivers. In fact, she strategically used the case of sex discrimination against a man to convince a patriarchal bench that discrimination on the basis of sex constitutes a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution. Having spent the better part of four decades working to advance policies and practices for gender equality in countries across the global South, I was inspired by Justice Ginsburg’s success in leveling the playing field for women and exposing the injustices caused by gender discrimination. Additionally, her ability to demonstrate that it is possible to combine a demanding job with nurturing a family showed me that doing it all was possible, especially if one was fortunate to have a supportive life partner and sense of humor. In fact, of all her famous sayings, the one that I delight in the most is, ‘In every good marriage, it helps to sometimes be a little deaf.’ Thank you again, Justice Ginsburg, for serving as my inspiration and role model.” ~ Geeta Rao Gupta, Senior Advisor & Founder of the 3D Program for Girls and Women and former President of ICRW
“I want to express my profound gratitude for the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her impact on changing the country’s laws and treatment of women is historic. In virtually every class I teach in my position as Director of Applied Gender Studies, her rulings (or dissents) are discussed. She authored the majority’s decision for the United States v. Virginia case that struck down the all-male admissions requirement to the state-funded Virginia Military Institute (VMI)in 1996. Her dissent in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear (2007) gender salary discrimination case resulted in President Barak Obama enacting the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2008. She erased the concept of ‘women’s jobs’ and ‘women’s work.’ Her arguments resulted in protecting pregnant working women’s rights, women’s right to have credit in their names, and equitable compensation for people in the military. While she is celebrated for her impact on the rights of women, Justice Ginsburg’s legal writings and decisions enhanced the rights of the entire country. Thank you, Justice Ginsburg. Rest in Peace.” ~ Linda M. Perkins, Board Member, ICRW and Associate University Professor and Director of Applied Gender Studies, Claremont Graduate University (CA)
“In the opportunities with ICRW and otherwise when I was able to be in the presence of Justice Ginsburg, I was always struck that, no matter how many people surrounded her, she always had time for everyone.” ~ Scott Jackson, Chair of the ICRW Board of Directors
“‘Women belong in all places, where decisions are being made.’ Not just this, but several remarkable quotes and some milestone judgements which proved her substance every single time. Her conviction with which she fought for the rights of women was inspiring for everyone, all over the world. Her immense fighting spirit was very well balanced with her humbleness and grounded behaviour. We can learn many things from her. The list can go on and on, but all I can say is, she will live in our hearts with her work. She has shown a path to many and has lead a way where coming generations can benefit from her work and judgments. Rest in Peace, ma’am. Respect.” ~ Tanya Arora, HR Assistant Manager ICRW Asia
