I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by
Elizabeth Baddeley, is a dynamic, enjoyable introduction to a notable woman.
When Ruth Bader was growing up, the expectations and opportunities for girls
did not match those of boys. For a woman to study law, go into business, even
to work at any profession outside the family were all-too-rare occurrences.
Ruth was smart and determined, and from the outset she begged to differ when
she felt there were injustices. When her teacher said left-handed students
should write with their right hand, Ruth said “No.” She saw signs reading “No
Jews” and “No Coloreds” and “No Mexicans,” and she knew this was prejudice –
clearly unjust – and she thought “No.” Her mother had encouraged her to read
about strong women and to speak out for herself; Ruth took her mother’s support
to heart. She married a man who agreed that women were capable of just about
anything they set their minds to, and she and Martin Ginsburg crafted a family
life that supported their dreams. Yet, even after graduating at the top of her
law school class, Ruth faced challenges because she was a woman (and a mother
and Jewish). Ruth persisted, becoming a valued lawyer and law professor. She
became well known for her ability to disagree when she saw injustice – to
disagree in such a way that others came to understand she was right. In her
first case before the Supreme Court, she advocated for equal treatment for
women, but her sense of justice did not stop there. She became a valued judge,
and now at the highest court in the land, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader
Ginsburg says clearly, “I dissent” when she feels people are being treated
unfairly. She says: “Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a
way that will lead others to join you.” Wise words from a wise woman. Ages 5-10,
plus anyone needing inspiration in working for social justice.
