Remembering RBG: At Home and Abroad

What does RBG represent for you? (Diala)
RBG was more than just a Supreme Court Justice. She was a legacy, a fighter and a one of a kind woman who unequivocally challenged gender norms. RBG made it possible for American women to believe in the power of an egalitarian marriage. Whether it was her educational or professional accomplishments; RBG broke a million glass ceilings. Throughout her life, RBG faced harsh incidents of gender discrimination, and she was judged for playing an unorthodox role as a wife and as a mother. Yet, despite her hardships, she remained soft and kind. We will always remember her with immense gratitude.

How did RBG's struggle for gender equality transcend borders and resonate with you and your life in India? (Krithiga) Her fight for gender equality is relevant in both the US and across the world - because not one country in the world has achieved complete gender equality. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2020, it will take us nearly 99.5 years to realize this goal. As a female Journalist based in India, I can relate with so many aspects of Ruth's struggle for gender equality as can many Indian women (like me) can also relate to it, because her struggle is universal - she is a global feminist icon and her struggles against discrimination transcend borders and resonate with women from all over the world pursuing various career paths.

What can we learn from RBG in the context of the upcoming US election? (Diala)
RBG’s death caused a political uproar in America. For many years, there has been an ideological battle brewing in the US and causing a huge divide between opposite ends of the political spectrum. ‘The Liberals versus the Conservatives’ is a simple sentence that conveys this dogmatic divide. Naturally, the US Supreme Court was a representative of such a battle. RBG was one of the few liberal voices of the court, her death has unwillingly tipped the scale in favor of the conservatives.

The current administration has been adamant on filling RBG’s spot by appointing a conservative judge. In the US, Supreme Court justices have life tenure, which means each serves until they resign, retire, die or are impeached. In other words, if the Court rules out of a conservative thought pattern; it will remain this way for many years to come. Issues like abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights and climate change will be severely affected. The late RBG understood the magnitude of her death on the US; a few days before her passing she told her granddaughter “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” RBG’s goal was to keep on serving until the current administration is no longer serving in the White House.

It is within our power as young American citizens to uphold her legacy. A recent report published by the Pew Research Center showcased that Millennials and Generation Z voters are set to represent 37.5% of the 2020 electorate. With a high turnout rate, we could determine the winner of the 2020 Presidential election. We should vote for a Presidential candidate that will protect the freedoms of all Americans, regardless of their gender, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. I encourage all young voters and all women to vote in the upcoming elections. Your vote matters and your vote is crucial this year.

In spite of increasingly nationalistic, hostile, male led political environments in both the US and India, how can we draw hope and inspiration from RBG's legacy? (Krithiga)
There are only 2 women Judges currently in the Supreme Court of India. A Committee which was constituted recently by the Ministry of Home Affairs to reform criminal laws in India does not have any female members. No woman has ever served as the Chief Justice of India and it is not just the judiciary that lacks women representation. Harassment and discrimination in the workplace, rampant sexism and misogyny, lack of opportunities and education, unsafe modes of travel and a patriarchal society are just some of the many challenges faced by women in India. RBG has passed on the baton to us and it is up to us now to take forward the fight for gender equality in all spheres. As I introspect about the long journey ahead, this quote of hers gives me immense hope: “It’s very hard to do anything as a loner, but if you get together with like-minded people, you can be a force for change.” I am incredibly motivated and inspired by her story and I aspire to challenge stereotypes and fight for gender equality just like her by joining hands with feminist fighters from around the world.

Diala Ghneim is a WIFP interviews contributor based in the US and Krithiga Narayanan is a journalist based in India.