Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the second female Justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, having been appointed in 1993, to what is a life-long role. Her inspiring journey towards such a prestigious position is portrayed in the new movie: ‘On the Basis of Sex’.
For a private screening of this movie, prior to general release, ‘The Female Lead’ was the perfect host, as an organisation dedicated to “making women’s stories more visible and offering alternative role models to those ever-present in popular culture.” The event, held at the Charlotte Street Hotel on the 13th February, brought together an audience with a range of ages and backgrounds including pupils from Surbiton High School. Edwina Dunn, founder of ‘The Female Lead’ and former pupil of Surbiton high school, drew on her experience of working in a male-dominated industry as a data science entrepreneur in setting up ‘The Female Lead’ in order to celebrate women’s successes across a range of different careers. One such way in which these successes are celebrated is in the book, ‘The Female Lead’ which tells the story of 60 inspiring women. Three quarters of secondary schools in the U.K. have been gifted a copy. Addressing the invited audience, prior to the screening, Edwina stressed the significance of sharing, and thereby normalising these stories of success, suggesting it gives girls the mindset of “if they got there, maybe I can too.”
What better role model for young girls than Ruth Bader Ginsburg after all? The film documents the struggle she faced to find work and be taken seriously as a lawyer, even after graduating with a degree from Columbia Law School. The relationship between two different generations’ approach to feminism is wonderfully captured in the on-screen relationship between Ginsburg and her daughter, Jane, who motivates her mother to make an active difference in the fight for gender equality, in the courts, and not only in the classroom.
Lady Arden, Supreme Court Justice in the U.K., and one of a panel of speakers on the night highlighted Ginsburg’s impact on equality law and her legacy as a major driver of social and cultural change. Hearing a successful woman’s consideration of another successful woman’s legacy was incredibly empowering and embodied the message Lady Arden was making about women supporting women, particularly in male-dominated industries.
In celebrating female empowerment, ‘The Female Lead’ continues to inspire the next generation to be fearless in their ambitions, with role models like Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Watch her story in cinemas now and follow the “Female Lead”.
