WOMEN OF THE WEEK
RUTH BADER GINSBURG
Who was she?
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) was a groundbreaking U.S. Supreme Court Justice known for her advocacy of gender equality and civil rights. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she faced gender discrimination throughout her education and early career. Ginsburg graduated from Cornell University and later attended Harvard Law School, where she was one of the few women in her class. She co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU, winning pivotal cases that advanced women’s legal rights. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993, Ginsburg became a key figure in landmark decisions on gender discrimination, reproductive rights, and healthcare. Her legacy as a fierce advocate for justice and equality continues to inspire generations, earning her the nickname “Notorious RBG.” We honor her this month due to her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court on October 6, 1993.
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Other Resources to learn about Ruth - Bader- Ginsburg:
Life​​
Born in Warsaw on November 7th, 1867, she moved to Paris in 1891 to further her studies, where she earned two licentiateships in Physics and Mathematical Science. In 1903, she obtained her Doctor of Science degree and later succeeded her husband as the Head of the Physics Laboratory at the Sorbonne. Following her husband’s death, she became Professor of General Physics in the Faculty of Sciences, marking the first time a woman had held this position. In 1914, she was appointed Director of the Curie Laboratory at the Radium Institute of the University of Paris. She passed away on July 4th, 1934, due to a radiation-related disease.
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Work
Working alongside her husband, she discovered two new elements, polonium and radium. Her extensive research on radiation earned her a Nobel Prize in Physics, and she later received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her continued scientific achievements. During World War I, she developed mobile X-ray units for use on the battlefield and trained other women to operate them, significantly advancing medical science at the time.
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Impact & Legacy
She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person, male or female, to receive two Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. She also became the first woman physics professor at the Sorbonne and played a crucial role in creating mobile X-ray units used during wartime. Her work saved countless lives during World War I and continues to save lives today through cancer treatment. In addition, she demonstrated that women can make groundbreaking contributions to science and continues to inspire scientists to use their work to help others.
Who was she?
Cornelia Sorabji (1866-1954) was a pioneering Indian jurist and advocate known for her steadfast commitment to women’s rights and legal reform. She faced gender barriers early on yet pursued education with remarkable determination, studying at Bombay University and later becoming the first woman to study law at Oxford University. Sorabji confronted the limitations of formal practice for women in India by offering legal counsel to women who lacked access to the male-dominated system, shaping a niche in matters of purdah, marriage, and property. She co-founded educational and reform-minded initiatives, emphasising literacy and the empowerment that comes from knowledge. Her work extended beyond the courtroom to advocacy for broader social change, influencing future generations of women to pursue justice with courage and compassion.