By Joi Bass

Dreamlettes, we can all agree that 2020 has been a pivotal year. Through the good, bad and the ugly, this year has taught us one important thing: fight for change.

With the spread of Covid-19 and the issues of systemic racism brought to light, it is now more important than ever for us to do our part if we want to see change in a flawed system.

One person who continuously fights for change is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Even before her appointment to the highest court in the land in 1993, the 87-year-old justice has dedicated her life fighting for women’s rights and gender equality. She is the prime example of someone who lives by her beliefs and isn’t afraid to voice them.

Here are 11 kick-butt quotes by Ruth Bader Ginsburg that will make you want to fight for equality as well:

1. “Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped me make my dreams come true.”

2. “Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

3. “Just think how you would like the women in your family to be treated, particularly your daughters. And when you see men behaving in ways they should not, you should tell them this is improper behavior.”

4. “We should not be held back from pursuing our full talents, from contributing what we could contribute to society, because we fit into a certain mold—because we belong to a group that historically has been the object of discrimination.”

5. “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.”

6. “You can disagree without being disagreeable.”

7. “I try to teach through my opinions, through my speeches, how wrong it is to judge people on the basis of what they look like, the color of their skin, whether they’re men or women.”

8. “If you want to influence people, you want them to accept your suggestions, you don’t say ‘You don’t know how to use the English language’ or ‘How could you make that an argument?’ It will be welcomed much more if you have a gentle touch than if you are aggressive.”

9. “If you are going to change things, you have to be with people who hold the levers.”

10. “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”

11. “Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.”

Ever since graduating top of her law school class in 1959, Justice Ginsberg has been a true agent of change. During the course of her 60 year career, Ruth Bader Ginsberg has been blessed with the opportunity to see real change in the issues she has fought for. Recently she has been recognized has a liberal hero and feminist icon crowning her as the Notorious RBG.

I think we can all agree that Ruth Bader Ginsberg has changed the game. She inspires us fellow Dreamlettes to advocate for our rights and the rights of those around us. She also encourages us to address societal flaws. As stated earlier 2020 has been a crucial year. Everyone regardless of their ethnic background, gender or societal class has experienced a significant change in the way they go about their everyday lives. Moreover, people are starting to bring awareness to important causes that may not have caught everyone’s attention.

Despite the many tragedies we have witnessed, this year has shown us—just like Justice Ginsberg—that we should never give up. We should continue to fight for the things we are passionate about and always remain humble. Most importantly, we have to surround ourselves with likeminded people who won’t stop fighting for what’s right and let the world see that Dreamlettes make their dreams a reality.

Joi Bass is an editorial writer who specializes in social justice, mental health advocacy, online safety and the well-being of our youth. You can follow her on Instagram.