Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

by Irin Carmon

“Both men and women have one main role: that of being human beings.”

“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” This amendment, known as the ERA, had been introduced in every session of Congress since 1923, but each time it had been held up in committee.

The pedestal upon which women have been placed has all too often, upon closer inspection, been revealed as a cage.

Generally, change in our society is incremental, I think. Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”

Present the court with the next logical step,’ she urged us, and then the next and then the next. ‘Don’t ask them to go too far too fast, or you’ll lose what you might have won.’

Scalia says, “If you can’t disagree ardently with your colleagues about some issues of law and yet personally still be friends, get another job, for Pete’s sake.”

As for Sotomayor’s calling herself a product of affirmative action, RBG replied crisply, “So am I.”