‘Tis the Season to Be Notorious: The Feminist RBG Holiday Gift Guide

No one personifies the slogan “she persisted” better than U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This “tough as nails” 85-year-old Queen of the Bench has not missed a single day of oral arguments in 25 years—even after cracking three ribs in early November, she was back in the office (and to her vigorous exercise routine) just days later

Luckily, the cult popularity of this fierce feminist means the holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate her with your feminist friends and family. There are plenty of RBG gifts and novelties to choose from—but we went out looking for 10 of the most notorious gifts for everyone on your list.

There’s no truth without Ruth—and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t spend the season spreading her spirit of feminist righteousness!

#1: RBG on a Small Screen

The award-winning documentary RBG, about the life and times of this Goddess of Justice, was selected by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures as the Best Documentary Film of 2018. Directed and produced by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, RBG was funny, smart and entertaining. Buy it on DVD here.

#2: RBG on the Big Screen

On the heels of RBG, Hollywood is getting in on the action. Directed by Mimi Leder and co-starring Kathy Bates as feminist attorney Dorothy Kenyon, On the Basis of Sex, out December 25, 2018, stars Felicity Jones as the one and only RBG and follows her life from Harvard Law School to her work with the ACLU Women’s Rights Project—and her first successful sex discrimination case before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1972. Sign up for FanAlert to be notified as soon as tickets are available.

#3: RBG on the Printed Page

If you’d rather give a book, there’s The Unstoppable Ruth Bader Ginsburg: American Icon, Antonia Felix’s photo history with biographical essays as well as excerpts from Ginsburg’s speeches. For the more erudite, there’s Ginsburg’s My Own Words.

#4: RBG at the Gym

As the oldest sitting Supreme Court Justice, RBG attributes her longevity to her exercise routine. Learn her secrets with the bestselling book The RBG Workout. And pair it with RBG’s Super Diva workout T-shirt.

#5: RBG, But Make It Fashion

Wear your devotion to the nation’s Greatest Dissenter with RBG clothing. There’s so much to choose from—T-shirts, tank tops, leggings, skirts, sundresses, and scarves. Perhaps a Flaming Feminist tee (her own self-ascribed label), RBG “I dissent” leggings or a pink Notorious RBG onesie for your favorite baby feminist! Or just wear her on your body with an RBG temporary tattoo.

#6: RBG on the Go

Carry her with you with an RBG Tote Bag.

#7: …And RBG When You Get Home

Decorate your walls with RBG posters. 

#7: RBG’s Dissenting Look

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has a special collar she wears when she dissents to decisions of her conservative fellow justices; she famously wore her “dissent collar” on November 9, 2016. Now, you can wear your own! Whether a necklace or a pair of earrings are the perfect fit, you’ll look good and do good: 50 percent of the profits are divided between The Bronx Freedom Fund, the International Refugee Assistance Project and the Center for Reproductive Rights.

#8: RBG Forever

RBG litigated many of her pioneering women’s rights cases while she was at the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. Celebrate her legacy by making a donation to the ACLU on a friend’s behalf.

#9: RBG in Action

My personal favorite: The RBG action figure with gavel, white gloves and a commanding index finger to point at whoever needs to be schooled.

#10: RBG All Over

Once you’ve assembled your series of RGB gifts, you can package it up with RBG wrapping paper.

Short on funds? Just share the Hamilton-inspired RBG rap video with a deserving and dissenting friend.

About

Carrie N. Baker, J.D., Ph.D., is the Sylvia Dlugasch Bauman professor of American Studies and the chair of the Program for the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College. She is a contributing editor at Ms. magazine. You can contact Dr. Baker at cbaker@msmagazine.com or follow her on Twitter @CarrieNBaker.