Showcasing the Notorious RBG

Women’s Awareness Club hosted a film screening of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary “RBG” April 25.

Maleah Downton, Editorial Editor|Apr 25, 2019

PHOTO | TNS

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks at an annual Women's History Month reception hosted by Pelosi in the U.S. capitol building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. This year's event honored the women Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court: Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. (Allison Shelley/Getty Images/TNS)

As Sexual Assault Awareness Month concludes, Women’s Awareness Club wrapped up their various activities with a viewing of the 2018 documentary “RBG” April 25 in the library during the late start morning.

“RBG is motivating, funny and endearing,” history teacher and Women’s Awareness Club sponsor Jenny Brown-Howerton said. “This year we wanted to focus more on empowerment and finding one’s voice. The documentary was a great example of how women can utilize their voice and intelligence.”

Directed and produced by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, the documentary takes a look into the life and journey of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she emerged as an icon and rose to her position in the nation’s highest court. Titled after the media’s pinned nickname for Ginsburg, “Notorious RBG,” the film offers a glimpse into Ginsburg’s life. From her love of the opera, her heartwarming marriage to Martin D. Ginsburg and her devotion to the fight for gender equality, the film takes a chronological journey as it depicts the many challenges and obstacles Ginsburg overcame to get to her position as being one of the most influential women in our modern society.

“She goes to the beat of her own drum,” junior Ceresa Munjak-Khoury said. “The nickname is fitting. The way she fights even when people tell her she’s wrong, she is truly the notorious RBG.”

During the film, students enjoyed donuts complimentary of Women’s Awareness Club sponsors Brown-Howerton and theology teacher Polly Holmes. With the limited time, the discussion following the film will be held in a Lunch and Learn event Tuesday, April 30. Students from both Brown-Howerton and Holmes’ classes were offered the opportunity to earn extra credit if they attended the viewing of “RBG” and participate in next week’s Lunch and Learn discussion.

“I think it’s always a nice incentive to encourage students to come in,” Brown-Howerton said. “Hearing from a lot of the responses people were really glad they went.”

With this year’s goal of empowering students, the documentary played a vital role in executing that objective. With SAAM, Women’s Awareness Club wanted to not only educate students but to also inspire, according to Brown-Howerton. Following the documentary, junior Inaya Khan said that she personally was motivated by the legacy of Ginsburg.

“It’s important that we learn about other people that have made changes and challenged the norms of society,” Khan said. “Through that, we can be inspired by them to also make a change.”