Ruth Bader Ginsburg has had a long and illustrious career, including roles as a lawyer, law professor, supreme court justice, and most recently, internet sensation. In addition to Justice, Ginsburg has taken on another title: The Notorious RBG.
Recommended for you
The moniker is, of course, fashioned after rapper Biggie Smalls, otherwise known as The Notorious B.I.G. Sometime in the last few years, Ginsburg became a popular figure on the internet thanks to journalist/ Tumblr curator Shana Knizhnik and her tumblr page devoted to all things Notorious RBG, including memes, quotes, and all around fangirling. Not surprisingly, Knizhnik wasn’t the only one to bow down to the power of RBG, and the page took off. It became so popular that Knizhnik teamed up with journalist Irin Cameron to write a book about their favorite public figure.
RBG may be an old jewish lady, but just like her namesake she’s done some pretty groundbreaking stuff in her life. So in honor of "The Notorious RBG" being released to the world last week, here are just a few of the amazing things RBG has accomplished in her extraordinary life.
She makes history every day.
First and foremost, we must start with the obvious. On August 10th, 1993, RBG took her judicial oath and became the second woman and first jewish woman to sit on the Supreme Court. It’s been 22 years since then, and even though she’s 82, RBG is still going strong.
The origins of her law career should be the stuff of legend.
RBG was originally enrolled in Harvard Law School as one of nine women in a class of 500.
She excelled in her studies and became the first female member of the prestigious Harvard Law Review.
As if that wasn’t enough, RBG was also a wife and mother at the same time. In fact, when her husband, who was also enrolled at Harvard Law, got cancer, she went to class for both of them, ensuring that he graduated.
But RBG’s time at Harvard ended when her husband got a job at a law firm in NYC. But not to worry, RBG wasted no time, enrolling at Columbia Law and graduating first in the class of ‘59.
She broke barriers wherever she went.
Not only was RBG the first woman to become a member of the Harvard Law Review, she also was the second female law professor at Rutgers, and the first female professor granted tenure at Columbia.
She’s in full support of LGBTQ rights.
RBG made history again when she became the first Supreme Court Justice to officiate a same sex wedding. She was also integral in the decision to make same sex marriage legal.
She never ceases in her fight for gender equality.
She was the director of the Women’s Right’s Project of the American Civil Liberties Union and fought for women’s rights in various court cases and published writings over the years.
She rocks a lace jabot like no one else.
RBG has a collection of lace jabots to jazz up her justice robes. She even wears specific ones depending on the outcome of a case. You can see a detailed rundown here.
She’s probably the next American Ninja Warrior.
Full disclosure, I can barely do one pushup, so when I learned that RBG can do 20 I was in complete awe. Small reminder that she’s 82 and works out with a trainer several times a week.
She’s entirely devoted to her role as Supreme Court Justice.
In 1999 RBG was diagnosed with colon cancer, yet she never missed a day of a Supreme Court session even while going through treatment. That's dedication.
So here's to a truly iconic woman, who isn't gonna give up anytime soon.
