On the Basis of Sex: Celebrating the Notorious RBG
On the Basis of Sex, the long-awaited biopic of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, delivered a satisfying origin story on the US Supreme Court Justice (the second female Justice to serve, who was elected by a landslide victory of 96-3) modern feminist icon. Known as the Notorious RBG, Ginsburg played a pivotal role in many controversial cases in the past and has been a strong advocator of gender equality throughout her career, and still continues to be one.
As already mentioned, On the Basis of Sex feels more like an origin story. Rather than following the full arc of her career, this biopic focuses on the first sex-discrimination case she argued in federal court, as well as her efforts to develop legal strategies that challenged injustices deeply ingrained within American society. Portraying the beginnings of her career-long battle against discrimination, the film catches the ups and downs of her formative period and highlights the prejudices she faced at the beginning of her career. The opening shot shows a parade of mostly white males in suits at Harvard; amongst them walks Ruth Bader Ginsburg, standing out as one of the nine women (out of nearly 500) in her class. At a dinner party, she and others are asked by the dean of the law school why they think they have the right to be there instead of the men who might have been admitted instead. This establishes early on the world of the film: a world where Harvard, as well as other institutions of power and influence, is no place for a woman.
Gender discrimination carries onwards past her law school days and into her career. Legal firms refuse to hire her because she is a woman, and Ginsburg is forced to take a job as a professor instead. This allows for a glimpse into the political activism movement of the 80s, pushed forward by the youth. This unapologetic wave of demands for change is most evidently seen in Ruth's own daughter, Jane, who sneaks out of school to attend rallies. However, as Ginsburg says in the film, "protests are important, but changing the culture means nothing if the law doesn't change."
The film makes it clear that the fight for gender equality is one that is fought for both sexes, and men must be included in the fight if we are to win it. Ruth finds her way into fighting legalized discrimination against women by defending a man, and this pivotal case is won with the help of her husband. In fact, from a socio-political viewpoint, it almost feels like On the Basis of Sex is less of a how-to for women and their fight against gender inequality, and more of a how-to for men and how they can be a good ally. Despite the rampant gender inequality in her world, Ginsburg's marriage life is not impacted by it. As the New York Times puts it, "On the Basis of Sex is both the narrative of an important legal crusade and the portrait of an extraordinary marriage... Marty Ginsburg is an ideal partner and helpmeet, unfailingly supportive and solicitous of his wife. He cooks meals, runs interference with their adolescent daughter, Jane, and most importantly, declines to make his own ego or ambition the center of the family's life."
The film itself does a coherent job of portraying Ginsburg's accomplishments and their significance. While it is full of biopic cliches, it did well in dramatizing her personal stake in feminist legal activism and the intellectual way in which she approached it. Although it was not complicated and may leave audiences wanting more, this doesn't necessarily make it bad. In fact, well-made biopics and historical narratives both pique and satisfy curiosity. One can say that it is appropriate, even, that On the Basis of Sex is justified in being merely origin story, as it is part of a larger one that remains yet to be finished.