I conceived of myself in large part as a teacher. There wasn't a great understanding of gender discrimination. People knew that race discrimination was an odious thing, but there were many who thought that all the gender-based differentials in the law operated benignly in women's favor. So my objective was to take the Court step by step to the realization, in Justice Brennan's words, that the pedestal on which some thought women were standing all too often turned out to be a cage.
Ruth Bader GinsburgAdult women are able to make decisions about their own lives' course no less than men are.
Ruth Bader GinsburgI conceived of myself in large part as a teacher. There wasn't a great understanding of gender discrimination. People knew that race discrimination was an odious thing, but there were many who thought that all the gender-based differentials in the law operated benignly in women's favor. So my objective was to take the Court step by step to the realization, in Justice Brennan's words, that the pedestal on which some thought women were standing all too often turned out to be a cage.
Ruth Bader GinsburgThe greatest threat to public confidence in elections in this case is the prospect of enforcing a purposefully discriminatory law, one that likely imposes an unconstitutional poll tax and risks denying the right to vote to hundreds of thousands of eligible voters.
Ruth Bader GinsburgEvery constitution written since the end of World War II includes a provision that men and women are citizens of equal stature. Ours does not.
Ruth Bader GinsburgIt's great to be in the position of asking questions and not having to answer questions.
Ruth Bader GinsburgFeminism โฆ I think the simplest explanation, and one that captures the idea, is a song that Marlo Thomas sang, 'Free to be You and Me.' Free to be, if you were a girlโdoctor, lawyer, Indian chief. Anything you want to be. And if youโre a boy, and you like teaching, you like nursing, you would like to have a doll, thatโs OK too. That notion that we should each be free to develop our own talents, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriersโmanmade barriers, certainly not heaven sent.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg