Free to Be Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Story of Women and Law

by Teri Kanefield

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Before taking her place as the second woman on the Supreme Court of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg quietly led a revolution and forever changed life in America for both men and women. Reserved and quiet, she didn't set out to be a trailblazer, but there was something in her way: the law. Hundreds of years of legal precedent, a line of devastating Supreme Court cases, and countless statutes depriving women of equal citizenship and keeping them from full participation in the legal and political process.

Mixing social and legal history with a moving and intimate biography, award-winning author Teri Kanefield captures a turbulent era and tells the story of how Ruth Bader Ginsburg defied expectations to become one of the most influential and powerful women in America. 

"We hear many voices in this wonderfully engaging biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and come away with a far richer understanding of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and of what the rise of feminism has meant for all of us, whatever our gender, whatever our politics."
--Kathleen Vanden Heuvel, Law Library Director, Adjunct Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law

"An engrossing biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg that doubles as a primer on how America's champions for gender equality pressed their cause in the courts. Recommended for every law student, lawyer, and lay reader looking for an authoritative yet readable treatment of how the law shapes women's lives, and vice-versa."
--Kathleen Morris, Associate Professor of Law, Golden Gate Law School

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Law, Adult, Politics, Feminism

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2016

About the author

Teri writes novels, short stories, essays, stories for children, nonfiction for both children and adults, and lots of appellate briefs.

Her stories and essays have appeared in publications as diverse as Education Week, Scope Magazine, The Iowa Review, Cricket Magazine, and The American Literary Review.

Teri's books have received the following honors and distinctions:

The Girl From The Tar Paper School:
--Jane Addams Book Award
--Carter G. Woodson Middle Level Book Award, 2015
--California Reading Association Eureka Silver Honor Book Award
--Included on the 2015 list of Notable Social Studies Trade Books for young readers compiled by the National Council for Social Studies
--Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (National Association of Teachers of English), Recommended Book
--Included in the New York Public Library's list of 100 children's books to read in 2014.
--A Junior Library Guild selection

Praise for The Girl From The Tar Paper School:
"Beautifully and clearly written." School Library Journal, starred review
"Worthy of the highest recommendation." Midwest Book Review

Rivka's Way
--Sidney Taylor Book Awards, Notable book of 2001
-- Lilith Magazine's 5th Annual Selection of Books for Young Readers
--Included in Great Books for Girls, by Kathleen Odean
--Included in Best Jewish Books for Children and Teens, by Linda R. Silver

Praise for Rivka's Way :
"A rewarding read for the romantically inclined." School Library Journal
"A simple but daring adventure." Voice of Youth Advocates

Guilty? Crime, Punishment, and the Changing Face of Justice
--Junior Library Guild selection

Teri's law practice is limited to representing indigents on appeal from adverse rulings.

She lives in California near the beach..

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a strong woman who made such a difference for the lives of women in America. I loved the early years of her life, how she handled it all, breaking the glass ceilings one at a time.

This strength carried her and still does today, who needs to retire at age 65 or 70 or 80 or even 90. However, will this latest health scare change things again in the Supreme Court, only time will tell. Not a 5 star for me, just too much talk about different SC cases that did not pertain to Ginsberg. Otherwise a wonderful insightful biography.

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book lacked focus. I didn't know if this book was about RBG or about the feminist progress in United States constitutional law. I think there is a way to write about both without stripping each of their essence. Unfortunately, Kanefield chose to structure the narrative in such a way that both themes felt inconsequential and rushed.

What did I learn about RBG? Close to nothing. What did I learn about legal feminist movement in the States? Nothing either.

Biographies are to give readers intimate look into otherwise opaque lives, stringing together a narrative that either romanticizes or reveals the inner character of the icon. This book fell short of that, not only because Kanefield chose to include out-of-place anecdotes in between paragraphs of case summaries, but also because by not having a strong underlying theme for the book, this equivocation (RBG? or Legal feminism? I can see Kanefield biting her nails trying to decide which to prioritize) causes the book to read more like a get-to-know-me brochure than a published biography.

I was REALLY irritated at the way she used pages after pages to summarize a case, only to have a insipid sentence following that gigantic block of pretext as a feeble attempt to analyze the case. I understand that Kanefield is not a legal scholar, and this book is not a legal textbook. But if you're going to spend so long setting the stage around these keystone cases, you have to have a follow-through with an equally biting analysis for these cases. I found myself asking the question "ok.. so what?" after she offers an attempt at analysis.

None of these cases stayed in my mind because Kanefield took too long setting the scene that I forgot what the story's even about.

Another thing, for all Kanefield's attempt at appearing neutral on feminist issues, her moderate biases creep in. In some paragraphs, I feel as if she's projecting her own beliefs using RBG as a mouthpiece. "Chapter 22: Different Voices" is a good example. I have a very hard time believing RBG as someone who would deride other female scholar's versions of feminism by dismissing it as "bad karma" (p206).

A quick look at Teri Kanefield's past works reveal that she's written plenty of books for young readers. However this book is not for young readers, certainly not with its implied complexity (which Kanefield ultimately did not deliver on).

I don't think this is a book I'd recommend to anyone.

[Una Tiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took a long time to finish since it's filled with constitutional law. It is nicely written and teaches us how brilliant Ruth Bader Ginsburg was.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teri Kanefield's “Free to be Ruth Bader Ginsberg: The Story of Women and Law” is so much more than the title suggests.

American history began as and has been a constant quest for freedom. From multiple forms of oppression. The Union (of the original 13 states) was far from perfect. Hence the Preamble to the Constitution, “We the People... in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility...”

Even now, 240 years after declaring independence from England, we have so much work to do to perfect the Union. Our nation's stories often revolve around heroes. Kanefield offers a dynamic, delightful and compelling telling of the story of a diminutive giant of a heroine, one of the most important contemporary figures in the ongoing quest for a Just, domestically Tranquil society.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg personifies, regarding civil rights law, particularly on gender and racial issues, Teddy Roosevelt's oft quoted adage, “Speak softly, but carry a big stick.” Ginsberg's stick, for more than fifty years, has been the practice of law, including as a law school professor, appeals court judge for DC circuit and Supreme Court Justice.

Setting the stage by illustrating with female law pioneer Myra Bradwell's experience, Kanefield weaves together a wonderful patchwork of case law and life experiences on how Ginsberg patiently but persistently knocked down immense walls precluding women and men from opportunities to lead fulfilling lives according to how each sees fit. Bradwell, in 1869 passed the Illinois Bar exam with high honors but was denied a license to practice because “a woman had no legal existence apart from her husband.”

The barriers to women's – and because rights can be a double-edged sword, certain men's – rights have been challenged many times since. In 2016, barriers still do exist.

For example, as a practicing attorney and law professor, Ginsberg took on the case of Stephen Wiesenfeld, whose wife died in childbirth. Even though his wife was the primary breadwinner in the family, Social Security denied the man survivor benefits which he needed in order to raise his newborn son. A law student at the time, Sandra Grayson, said “working alongside Ruth was like fighting an uphill battle that you might actually win.”

Kanefield relates that (according to legal scholar Herma Hill Kay) “Quite literally, it was her [Ginsberg's] voice, raised in oral argument and reflected in the drafting of briefs, that shattered old stereotypes and opened new opportunities for both sexes. She built, and persuaded the Court to adopt, a new constitutional framework for analyzing the achievement of equality for women and men. In doing so, Ginsburg in large part created the intellectual foundations of the present law of sex discrimination.”

Justice Ginsberg's mark on American law will be indelible because the potential for American women to make great contributions to society is vast and runs deep.

For me, this is personal. My daughter is the primary breadwinner in her family and my granddaughter could one day follow in the footsteps of a human rights pioneer like Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Free to be Ruth Bader Ginsberg, by Teri Kanefield in my opinion is a must read.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy biographies but I didn't really expect a biography of a Supreme Court Justice to be so interesting and entertaining. It's not only that, it is enlightening, inspiring, educational and a darn good read. This book intersperses tidbits about Ruth's early years along with Justice Ginsburg's service as well as other women trailblazers. Hat's off to Ms. Kanefield for a wonderful book and Kudos to Justice Ginsburg for a wonderful life!

[Larisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who wants to understand how far Womens' rights have come in this country and yet how far we still need to go.

It is also a great love story on how Ruth and Marty, her husband, believed in each other, supported each other, and truly allowed each to be the person they needed to be with love and compassion.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book although all the constitutional law bogged things down. The author describes how Justice Ginsburg shaped the law, sometimes taking a male client to increase the rights of women.
It also brought back a few law school nightmares about con law.

[Kanav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book! an absolute page-turner! Teri Kanefield is a prolific writer.

[Mackenzie Collett · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY:
Free to Be Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Story of Women and Law by Teri Kanefield is a biography that chronologically tells the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s (RBG) life, including the factors that contributed to her becoming a Supreme Court Justice.

Born Joan Ruth Bader, her mom Ceila changed her name to Ruth Joan Bader when she started school because Joan was too common. Growing up her family didn’t have a lot of money but they valued their Jewish faith, education, and the arts, particularly opera. During a time when most women were housewives, Ceila wanted RBG to have a career, so although she passed while RBG was in high school, she had a strong and lasting influence on RBG.

RBG met her husband Marty, whom she married a month after graduation, at Cornell. While Marty was in the military, RBG worked for the Social Security Administration, where she was demoted when she became pregnant with her daughter.

In 1956, RBG entered Harvard Law where Marty was a second-year student. That year Marty was diagnosed with cancer and RBG attended his classes and hers. Upon Marty’s graduation, he took a job in New York. RBG requested that Harvard allow her to take classes from Columbia but graduate from Harvard as they had allowed other male students to do. Harvard refused her request so RBG officially transferred to Columbia.

Upon her graduation, RBG found it difficult to find work due to her gender despite glowing recommendations from professors. She eventually secured a position clerking for a judge and then moved into teaching as a Professor. Unlike what the social standards at the time called for, RBG continued to work when she once again became pregnant with her second child, this time a son.

In 1972, Ruth argued her first case in court: Moritz v. Commissioner. It was a case that for many appeared to be based on tax law, however Ruth, having always had an eye for equality, saw it as a sex discrimination case. Mr. Moritz, who was his mother's caregiver, was ineligible for a tax deduction because the law assumed that all caregivers would be women. Ruth made the argument that laws that stereotype and limit women's roles hurt men as well. Her win, in this case, is what sparked her successful career-long fight for equality.

Later that year, Ruth co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). From her position as General Counsel, she took on each gender discriminator law one by one. In a period of three years, from 1973 to 1976, she argued cases in front of the Supreme Court six times and won five of them.

She continued to work for the ACLU and teach up until 1980 when she was then nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by President Carter. During her time on the lower court, she was often known as a moderate as she had colleagues on both the far-right and far left of the political spectrum.
In 1993, President Clinton terminated RBG’s position on the lower court nominating her to the Supreme Court, making her the second woman to ever serve on the bench. It was there where she became a staple for liberal justices as she was then surrounded by colleagues on the far-right of the political spectrum. While serving on the court she has played a part in deciding some of modern times most critical cases, such as her writing the majority opinion in United States v. Virginia (1996) and her dissenting opinion in Bush v. Gore (2000).

In her time serving on the court, RBG has battled colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer. Each time she has survived, returned to the bench, and put to rest rumors of her retiring anytime soon. When Marty, who she described as not only her husband but best friend and number one supporter, died in 2010 due to cancer, she returned to court the very next day to issue her dissent in the case occurring, stating it’s what he would have wanted.

The text ends with a quote from Ginsburg herself describing what she hopes to see in the future when it comes to the United States legal system. Her biggest goal is to serve on the bench until the day when her granddaughters can find themselves included as women in the United States Constitution.

IMPACT:
RBG’s work has directly lead to greater gender equality for not only women but men as well. Her approach to women’s rights was unique in the sense that she argued gender discrimination must be treated with the same level of scrutiny to that of racial discrimination. She, through challenging individual cases in court, was able to not only disprove traditional gender stereotypes, such as men being the primary breadwinners and women being the homemakers but also get sex-based distinction laws invalidated thus creating a precedent of equality in the place of patriarchy. And it wasn't only her work that impacted American culture, she herself created tidal waves of change across the country as she set an example to young women everywhere by becoming the second woman to ever sit on the Supreme Court. Throughout her career, she has illustrated to all that a woman can not only be a good mother and wife, but also an exemplary academic and breadwinner.

THEME:
The underlying message that Teri Kanefield in her biography Free to Be Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Story of Women and Law is trying to convey is that anyone can make an impact as long as they are willing to persevere in the face of adversity. Kanefield didn’t just write about all of RBG’s accomplishments, nor did she just write about all of RBG’s mistakes. Instead, Kanefield organized her writing in a way that provided an outline for what challenges RBG had to face to gain each success. In chapter five Kanefield writes of how RBG was unable to find employment anywhere: “In the fifties, traditional law firms were just beginning to turn around on hiring Jews. But to be a woman, a Jew and a mother to boot-- that combination was a bit too much” (45). Yet, the text continued to describe how Ruth refused to give up on finding a way to practice law, and eventually two chapters later in chapter number seven Kanefield describes the day when Ruth realized that if it hadn't been for her students approaching her and asking her “to offer a course at Rutgers on women in the law,” (65) she may have never co-founded and served as General Counsel for the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project. RBG, like many, wasn’t handed her successes on a silver platter; she had to continuously face one challenge after another head-on to get where she is today. She could have chosen to do what society told her to do and be a caregiver at home because she was a woman, but instead, she continued to do what she knew was right and ended up impacting American society in the way of equal rights for generations to come.

RECOMMENDATION:
Free to Be Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Story of Women and Law by Teri Kanefield is a text that I would recommend to not only those have an interest in law, but truly anyone who loves a good book. Kanefield was able to take a topic that many may find boring and turn it into a book that keeps readers on the edges of their seats. RBG’s story comes to life as Kanefield writes by intertwining case law with romance, tension, politics, and direct quotes from RBG herself. It is a book that not only serves an informative purpose but also entertains as it includes details of Ginsberg's life that are not known to many. And for those that would be worried that it is too much of a ‘feminist’ and or ‘liberal’ book they should have no fear as Kanefield included opinions opposite of Ginsburgs throughout the book as to try to make the book one that can be enjoyed by all.

[Jeremy Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less than 24 hours ago, at around 7:30pm, when news broke that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had passed away, my wife and I were outside, in the front yard, trying to save some of the bedded flowers that had been struggling with the Florida storms, intense as they’ve been in recent weeks. A neighbor stopped by to see what we were working on, got a call, and stepped away, only to return a few moments later with half a smile, giving us the information like it was the score of a game. I won’t pretend to speak his mind or his heart, but I can attest to the fact that my wife and I stopped what we were doing for a moment, looked at each other, and sighed, both of us with a lump in our throats that stayed through a good part of our Friday night.

By the time I had settled for the evening, it occurred to me that I had started this book back in July, when Ginsburg was hospitalized, when I was concerned about her well being and was searching for an open window into her life and her fight for women’s rights. The reason I stopped reading so fast, around page 25, was because this book was so horribly edited, so amateurishly written, that I had to put it down. There were missing words in key sentences (like “a” or “the” or “that”), awkward transitions between paragraphs (and sometimes within the same paragraph), and far too many superfluous and unnecessary tangents like they were filling up space. And every detail came across like a childish book report, sort of an “and then this and then that and then this and then that,” without a lick of originality or verbal style.

But with news of Ginsburg’s passing, I felt compelled to plug through the poor writing, the awful editing, and find the reason I had ordered it in the first place, to get a sense of Ruth and her times, which I definitely did, even if it felt like reading an extended Wikipedia page. What I found, in the end, was a reminder that while Ruth Bader Ginsburg championed countless issues over these last three decades on the court, she often did so as a voice of dissent, losing more battles than she won. She prized the voice of dissent because it was essential for the readers of tomorrow.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received a free copy from StoryCartel in return for an honest review

Free to Be Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Teri Kanefield, which primarily focusses on Ginsberg’s life and her gender discrimination cases, was an enlightening read.

The arbitrary distinctions made by courts of 1800s and early 1900s were appalling. For instance, one court declared that “The natural and proper timidity and delicacy which belongs to the female sex evidently unfits it for many of the occupations of civil life... The paramount destiny and mission of women are to fulfill the noble and benign offices of wife and mother. This is the law of the Creator.” Moreover, married women were legally considered to be their husband’s properties so they had to ask their husband’s permission for even entering into a contract. Such kind of an attitude, known as “romantic paternalism”, stifled the liberties of women and was essentially unconstitutional.

See full review here: https://mostlywaffle.wordpress.com/20...

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book about the incomparable Ruth Bader Ginsburg and also of her loving partnership with her husband, Marty. This took her from her early years through her education at prestigious Ivy League schools and her early career where she had to fight to get the education she wanted and then the jobs in actual legal work and not just glorified secretarial work like so many women who were law school graduates at the time, including Sandra Day O’Connor. In her work with the ACLU, Ginsberg was one of the most impactful advocates for gender equality in history. She forged the path we all follow now in building careers and families and that was before she became a Supreme Court justice, including parity in Social Security and employment benefits, family leave, career advancement opportunities and more. And that was BEFORE she became a Supreme Court Justice! I highly recommend Kanefield’s book which puts Ginsberg in context with other pioneering women’s rights advocates, both historical and contemporary. It’s a good read.

[Leila Mota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Não há como descrever uma biografia, a não ser dar algumas informações básicas. Ruth foi uma juíza da Suprema Corte dos Estados Unidos, que rompeu um sem número de barreiras para as mulheres na advocacia, até chegar a esse posto, que é preenchido, como no Brasil, por indicação. O que não significa falta de qualificações. Claro que há um componente partidário, mas Ruth, especificamente, era superlativa em suas qualidades e desempenho. É o tipo de modelo que eu seguiria, se tivesse tido acesso a informações sobre ela e outras mulheres tão maravilhosas quanto, isso na época em que eu ainda podia fazer algumas escolhas. É uma leitura excelente, e no final, meu único ressentimento é que ela não tenha se aposentado a tempo de um presidente democrata substituí-la. Desde então, a Corte mudou para pior.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-rounded look at the life and career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg that begins with historical background on her family and women and career in general up through her career as a Chief Justice. What stood out are the relationships between family, friends, and colleagues. There are snippets of key events, encounters, cases, and ruling that provide context for Ginsberg’s development as a lawyer and judge. Kanefield supports her biography on Justice Ginsberg with over three hundred footnotes. The extensive bibliography covers hearings, interviews, speeches, oral arguments, essays, court briefs, cases, books, periodicals, and other sources. The electronic book includes links to web sites when available. There is also a summary of applicable law and glossary of legal terms.

[Kelly Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed "Free to Be Ruth..." and learned a lot about her and her path to the Supreme Court. The coverage of the ACLU cases was especially enlightening to me, revealing how Justice Ginsburg often takes unexpected positions defending men in order to protect the rights of women. Brilliant! The tidbits about Ginsburg's private life (her insomniac habits, her active exercise routines, and her cooking habits) also drew me into this book. All-in-all this was a quick, enjoyable peek into the professional mind and home life of a most remarkable woman.

[Gmaharriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book! One would expect a biography of a Supreme Court Judge to be dry, especially when discussing legal cases. This is anything but dry. Written with humor, not only about her legal career, but also with a sub-text about her love of family, especially her wonderful marriage to her late husband, Marty. Highly recommended!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating story about a remarkable and fascinating woman. Kanefield did an excellent job of integrating aspects of Ginsburg's personal life with the challenges she faced in her professional life. A smooth writing style coupled with an ability to describe legal aspects in layman's terms made for a compelling read. Enjoyed it immensely.

[Giulia Larigaldie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book : a fascinating character, a life well rendered, and good explanations for the neophytes of the American Justice system.
Ideally, one should have a 10 persons or more book club, and everyone should read one of her biography and share it with the rest. It would surely provide an even deeper understanding of RBG.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much more than the story of RBG's amazing life, and what a life she has led so far! It is the history of 20/21st America, emphasizing the struggles to identify and address injustices.
You owe it to yourself to read this!

[Amy Simper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable and informative. This should be suggested reading for anyone with lack of appreciation for human rights, and the slow moving dynamics of our legal system. Ginsberg is a formidable woman who is one of my heroes.

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accessible biography about the life of Justice Ginsburg and her role in the development of gender discrimination law. It is an inspirational read especially during the current political climate and the #MeToo movement.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

RBG is a fascinating woman, and her background shows how strong and determined she is. Even for me, this got a little too deep in the weeds on certain cases she argued and decided. Her husband, Martin, was a star!

[Andrea Eckelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read that anyone with an interest in RBG or in trailblazing women should read. Ginsberg’s life is so interesting, and this is a fascinating look at how women in the law were overlooked for so long.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a supremely readable biography that presents RBG in all her complexity. When I read in the author’s note that she also writes for children, it made sense - usually reading about constitutional law is not this interesting!

[Penny Magoonaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pleasure to read ! Ruth Bader Ginsburg's accomplishments with the unequivocal support of her husband is an example for all people! Exactly as she would wish.

[A.soorianarayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the woman who became a Supreme Court judge, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and The evolution of law regarding gender discrimination . Very interesting history of evolution of law .

[Linda Dittes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this before book. What an exceptional woman.

[Holly B. Puterbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. Judge Ginsburg is much more than UST a judge. Excellent and fascinating

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

If a simple telling of facts can be inspiring, this is it

[Bill Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I was born in 1944 and had no idea of how difficult life was for women
Informative and entertaining. Bill