Essay Questions

What does the text tell us about Ruth Bader Ginsburg's upbringing?

This text is a chronicle of Ruth's life and legacy, including her life before her legal successes. As such, the author gives an account of her upbringing, and describes how Ruth was raised in a "loving, supportive family." Nonetheless, the text also draws upon the tragedies of Ruth's early life, including the death of her mother to cancer.

What was Ruth's experience like at Harvard Law school?

As one of the key events of her life, Ruth's admission to Harvard Law School is commented upon in this text. We learn Ruth was admitted there due to her "stellar grades," and continued to succeed and excel during her time there. The author also tells us that Ruth was the only woman out of 500 students in her class, and as such she faced high expectations and pressure from her peers.

What did Ruth's parents teach her?

From reading this text, we learn about Ruth's key inspirations in her personal and professional life. We are told that Ruth's parents were a key inspiration to her, and "instilled a work ethic and impressed upon her the importance of education and independence in her struggles to reach her full potential." As such, Ruth's work ethic, grit, and determination might have been learned from her hard-working parents.