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Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an American Jurist

    It is sufficed to say that the late Supreme Court associate justice of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was a champion of gender equality, became an icon, designed and led the fight for women’s rights in the 1970s, and subsequently served 27 years on the U.S. Supreme Court. She was 87 years old when she passed away.

    Ginsburg was known as a person who kindled strife, encouraged unrest, and some would say she was an agitator with an aim for positive consequences, a revolutionist. These consequences led the fight for women’s rights, rights of workers, and formed a culture that would brand her as an agent of change. She once said, “The state controlling a woman would mean denying her full autonomy and full equality.” She recognized the special obstacles of women.

    Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a historic figure, changing the way the world is for American women. For more than a decade, until her first judicial appointment in 1980, she led the fight in the courts for gender equality. The federal government protects the rights of both men and women in the workplace under the protected class, gender. Ginsburg directed her judicial power to women in the workplace, specifically because they are increasingly present and visible in the workforce and are often faced with a challenging set of circumstances as they attempt to balance work and family, advance up the corporate ladder, and function successfully in areas traditionally dominated by men. When she began her crusade, women were treated differently from men, by law.

    In 2019, the American public broadcast NPR interviewed Ginsburg. When asked if she had any regrets [in her life] she responded, “I do think that I was born under a very bright star because you think, my life, I got out of law school, [even though] I have top grades, no law firm in the city of New York will hire me, [so] I end up teaching…that gave me the time to devote to the movement for evening-out the rights of women and me… [Later] I was nominated to a vacancy on the DC circuit…I’ll tell you what Justice O’Conner once said to me, she said “Suppose we had been, we had come of age at a time when women lawyers were welcome at the Bar, you know what? Today we would be retired partners from some law firm”, but because that route was not open to us, we had to find another way, and [we] both end up in the United States Supreme Court.” Ginsburg does not direct a yes or no to the question, but her response indicates that her timeline and sequential passage of time put her in a position to illuminate, to appropriate the complexities of gender inequality, minimize discrimination, and argue for justice. Regret means you missed an opportunity. Ginsburg did not.

    As an American jurist, Ginsburg’s leadership at the Supreme Court of the United States synchronizes with other star orbits of our time – civil rights leaders, champions for change, influencers, and pioneers for justice. Her strong voice in Court defended the rights of women, which played a pivotal role in controversial cases such as Reed vs. Reed (1971), Wienberger vs. Wiesenfeld (1975), and the most recent notable case – rights for workers, Ledbetter vs. Goodyear Tire Rubber Co. (2009), which highlights the fight for the statute of limitations that supports the Equal Pay Act of 1963. Under the law, discriminatory pay or decisions can be filed as complaints without such strict time restrictions. In her statement, Ginsburg described how discrimination can silently accumulate over time, which stifled women climbing the compensation ranks in corporate America.

    Many define leadership as “serving as a channel” and in human resources, we service, oh yes, we do. Ginsburg survived her challenges. Surviving the challenges, maintaining internal stability and external adaptability while achieving goals are all elements of leadership. Consider the challenges you face daily as a leader in your environment. Will there be obstacles? Most likely, yes. In any setting, being an effective leader is a challenging task. The keys to becoming an effective leader are knowledge, experience, practice, and learning from one’s mistakes. Leadership is necessary and your function and role are related to the collectiveness of a whole, whether that’s in a team, a group, your department, or for the organization for which you serve – like Ginsburg who served and left a legacy, you can focus on the future, create change, initiate goals and strategies, create a culture based on shared values, and use your personal power to transform your world.  

    Blog Contributor: Sandra Charles-Garza MS-HRM, PHR, SHRM-CP

    Diversity Director, SHRM RGV 390