For this week’s roundup of student comments on our writing prompts, we asked teenagers to reflect on the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Sept. 19. Justice Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court and a pioneering advocate for women’s rights. So we wondered: To what extent do young people think we have achieved equality of the sexes?
We also asked students if their parents overpraise them and what they are looking forward to this fall.
Thank you to all those who joined the conversation this week from around the world, including teenagers from Lubbock, Tex.; Ramapo, N.J.; and South Korea.
Please note: Student comments have been lightly edited for length, but otherwise appear as they were originally submitted.
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Justice Ginsburg Fought for Gender Equality. How Close Are We to Achieving That Goal?
Students responded in droves to our Student Opinion question about the death of Justice Ginsburg based on a video about her life and an Opinion essay she wrote with advice for living.
In addition to writing about the progress made and that which still needs to happen, many students wrote about their admiration for Justice Ginsburg, her accomplishments and how they believe those accomplishments have shaped American society and their own lives. Oh, and many used the word “notorious,” a nod to the justice’s status in pop culture as well.
Making Predictions About Justice Ginsburg’s Legacy
Justice Ginsburg was an outstanding figure to our society and proved to us all that equal rights can be achieved. As a woman living in a mans world, she was able to turn around the stereotypes that have plagued these past generations and truly made life better for woman fighting for rights. When Ginsburg was growing up, nothing was handed to her, and the amount of success she had displays how much work she put in to her career, and to the lives of Americans. She showed our society what it means to respect yourself, and is an amazing figure to look up to. In the future, we as American citizens need to honor her success, and continue the progress that she has been able to make in her 13 years of being on the Supreme Court.
She will definitely be remembered and will be a part of our history for a lifetime … She is leaving behind a legacy here in the world for her bravery, and her empathy. She was very smart, people cherished her and loved her for everything she did, she even got chosen to be a judge in the Supreme Court; you rarely hear something like that.
Justice Ginsberg proved to be monumental in helping create pathways to justice, including voting in favor for same-sex marriage, or even a woman’s right to choose. Her passing only proves that we cannot mourn the mountain of a legacy that RBG has left behind without the fear of whatever is left of our democracy.
Carrying on the Work of Equality for All
There is no foundation or reasoning why a woman should not have the same opportunities or rewards as a man does; they are both the same species but just built differently. However, like RBG, I believe that this does not only apply to women, but it applies to men as well. In her career, RBG has demonstrated this idea by bringing cases to court in which she would defend a man that did not have the same rights as a woman, especially when it came to caring for a family.
The most inspiring aspect of her life and her advocacy is that she not only fought for women’s rights, but all minorities in the United States. She has and will continue to change lives now more than ever, and it will forever be remembered that she was able to empathize with the way she grew up religiously and as a minority to create a better America. Overall, she has inspired a generation of people, myself included, and she is the reason that so many women are able to be successful without being seen as less than men.
— Leetal Young, Ramapo High School
Bearing Witness to Present-Day Discrimination
In stereotypically male dominated fields like law, economics, and engineering, all it takes is one great woman to shatter the glass ceiling, opening up space in men’s minds for women to work with them side-by-side. While today these fields have become much more widely accepting of people from different genders and races, there is still progress to be made. For instance, I am frequently told that it will be easy for me to get into an engineering program in college because “I am a girl.” While this phrase is well intentioned, equity will not be fully reached until I can get into engineering schools on merit like my male counterparts.
— Rachel Fox, New Rochelle, NY
Thanks to Justice Ginsburg, today, women hold more positions in higher-status fields such as science, engineering, and politics, but the ratio of men to women in these fields are not completely even yet. Since I was 13 years old, I have known that I want to go into a science and engineering field. While this ambition of mine often goes unchallenged, I have encountered some people that discredited my aspiration with the excuse that I am a girl. I know that I am not alone in this experience.
— Bianca W., Franklin Lakes, NJ
As a 16 year old girl, I should not have to worry about whether or not the man behind me is walking fast because he wants to kidnap me, or because he is late for a meeting — and I shouldn’t be catcalled on the street regardless of my attire. The fight is never finished, and the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg should not serve as the end but rather a reminder to keep fighting.
— Katelyn White, Glen Ellyn, IL
A woman still makes $0.81 for every $1 a man earns. When employers are blind to gender, that gap will shrink. Male sexual abuse victims are less likely to speak out because they are expected to want and enjoy those acts. When society is blind to gender stereotypes, more male victims will have the courage and public acceptance to share their experiences.
Articulating What Still Needs to Change
She spent much of her life focused on her “really radical project” to abolish differences between men and women in society. What strikes me about this project is how it is viewed as “really radical.” Something radical is far-reaching and extreme. The fact that a project meant to establish equality for women is viewed this way demonstrates how much work is still needed. Although improvements have certainly been made in the gender pay gap and the number of women in certain fields, such as law and engineering, a project to bring equal opportunities to women and strip society of the barriers put up by gender roles should not be an “extreme” idea.
— Sofia Mosquera, Ramapo High School
RBG redirected and changed history by redefining what it truly means to be equal. However, I believe we are far from achieving RBG’S vision. The reality is changing legislation will never truly bring equality. We must change the societal perspective of how we view others. Inequality roots from the mindset one has towards groups of individuals. This mindset ultimately is bias. Bias blocks ones ability to be open minded causing one to be unwilling to look past stereotypes, generalizations, and prejudices. To achieve true equality as a society we must be taught to be open minded from a young age, and simply view people as people.
— David, Glenbard West High School
Ruth Bader Ginsburg set the slate for change in gender roles. But why was it a woman’s duty to create this change, especially when men held so much power in the past? While this was a great milestone, when you look deeper, it suggests that maybe some people didn’t care for making such big changes until a woman like Ruth Bader Ginsburg came along.
— Kamari, Glenbard West High School
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Do Your Parents Overpraise You?
Giving children abundant approval often seems like the right thing to do in the moment, but “praise also has a dark side” Paul L. Underwood writes in “Are You Overpraising Your Child?”
We asked students how they felt about the type of encouragement they received from their parents. This topic brought out complex feelings about the role of praise, overpraise and criticism in relationships with parents, siblings, school and self.
Building Confidence With Praise
I don’t agree with Mr. Underwood’s contention that too much praise can undermine children’s independence and self-confidence. Children need encouragement and without praising even the little things they do they start to feel disappointed in themselves. However, as they get older it’s okay to stop praising them as often and give constructive criticism, but while they are still kids it’s important to give them confidence.
Growing up my parents definitely praised me for doing certain things. I feel this is an important thing to do when raising kids, because it does in fact give them confidence. I believe there is a happy medium in giving these positive affirmations. Not every little thing deserves a “great job!” However, praising leads to wanting more praise and striving to be better in order to get that. I believe in my heart that my parents praising me growing up motivated me in many ways to obtain that validating feeling. It empowered my self esteem, and was one of the key things that has helped me have the confidence that I obtain today.
— Kilgore, Lubbock Cooper High School
Preparing for the “Real World”
…[T]o me it is better for the kids to learn the hard way. By telling them they do a good job after every little thing they do they won’t be prepared for the cruel real world when they are older. You can’t let them get used to everything they do is amazing and perfect, because even just in middle school teachers will tell you that you did great on something that you know you did terribly on. Letting them believe that they do great at everything is not good for them. It will not be like that in high school, and certainly not in college or at whatever job you have.
— Kaden French, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC
Do my parents overpraise me? No ma’am/sir. It’s quite the opposite. I do sometimes wish they could praise me a little, but my mom said “in real life you don’t get praise” and she is setting me up for it. I feel very uncomfortable when people praise me because I am not really used to it. When they do, my self esteem does not change. Pet compliments? What is that? I do believe that too much praise cannot help a child grow and have sufficient self esteem.
— Evonne Evaro, Lubbock Cooper High School, Tx, USA
The Issue of Trust
I can relate to being overpraised, in my family it can be a bit much. I know when something I’ve done isn’t good or that it isn’t what I wanted it to be, it doesn’t make me feel any better when my Mom insists that I ‘gave it my best effort’ and I ‘tried really hard’ because I know that I could’ve done better, and I should’ve worked harder. Beyond that, it makes me feel that every time I’ve been praised, I didn’t deserve it. If my parents praised me when I know I’ve done something not worthy of praise, then do they really mean the praise when I’ve actually done well? It throws me for a loop even thinking about it, asking myself if they are only saying this to make me happy and that they’re trying to shelter my feelings.
— Norah Seidler, Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn, IL
Striving for Perfection
When Mr. Underwood says that too much praise can undermine a child’s independence and self-confidence, I can relate all too well. When my parents, teachers, or anyone in particular praises my work in any field of knowledge, I feel as though the bar goes up and I have to live up to it and beyond. In my opinion, children can feel like there is a load on their back full of work they have to do, and at the end of the path, there’s a light, a light of compliments. That shouldn’t be how a child should think, they need to know that their work means something and isn’t just for a compliment. You could say that their praises help boost my confidence and let me know that I’m doing well, and they do, but the bar praises and compliments set can make a child feel insecure and as if they have to live up to it to be acknowledged.
— Jasper, Julia R. Masterman, Philadelphia, PA
I was told everything I did was wonderful as a child. However, I developed a lot of pressure to always live up to my parents, and then my own, standards of near perfection. My excitement of actually being recognized for my hard work can be dulled by my fear of not doing well enough to deserve it. While I have always been quite the tryhard, the more my mom would tell me I did a good job made me want to hear it more. And more. I wanted to be impressive, to the point where it became unhealthy. I would stress over every chore, every grade, and every project to the point of tears. I’d spend hours upon hours on making things absolutely perfect. Even if I did get to hear the treasured words of praise, if I wasn’t satisfied with my work, I didn’t believe I deserved it. The need for perfection in order for anything I did to actually deserve praise was crushing.
I do think that Mr. Underwood was correct when he was saying that too much praise can undermine a kid’s independence and self-confidence. When I was younger, I used to be told that I was “exceptional” in school or something along that line. I used to be so confident in my abilities in school and other things in general, but then as I got older, I realized that I didn’t stand out…Since so many people used to tell me that I was really good at things, I definitely felt and still feel pressure to live up to everyone’s standards for me, which is stressful and scary. I’m constantly thinking more about what other people will think of me and my work rather than focusing on the work I’m doing in general. I definitely believe that it is due to overpraise. I thought too highly of myself, and now I realized that the praise wasn’t true, so I have little to no self confidence at all.
I have a problem of seeing anything less than perfection as something that could have been handled better because of the praise I received as a kid about being “smart” and “talented.” Even when I think that I am good at something, insignificant occurrences can shift my perception about what I’m good at and what I’m not. The biggest offender of this is definitely school, however, because there has been times where I get a B on an assignment or a report card. I know that this is a good grade because my parents have told me that they won’t always expect me to be perfect, but at the same time, part of me believes that I failed, and that this isn’t good enough.
Wishing for a Bit More Recognition
I do not believe my parents overpraise me. I truthfully cannot remember the last time my parents told me they were proud of me when they weren’t holding a straight A report card in their hand. It’s exhausting to constantly be trying to exceed their expectations in order to receive a single “good job.” But on the other hand I know that I shouldn’t be needing their praise to encourage myself to get good grades in school. I should be doing that for myself so I can have a successful future. It’s just aggravating when I’m asked why I didn’t get a one hundred when I show them the 98 I worked extremely hard for.
— Maggie Nealis, Oneonta High School
My parents don’t overpraise me. Sometimes I find myself wishing that they would offer a tiny bit more praise. It’s really frustrating for me to try and do something my mom expects me too and then not be able to do it because I have a different skillset and end up disappointing them. My parents always compare me and my younger sister to other children and that kind of vanishes whatever confidence we have … When I do receive praise, it feels different than I expected it would. Instead of feeling thrilled like I thought I would, I just feel hopeful that I won’t mess up and let them down later on.
— Jinyu X., Julia R. Masterman, Philadelphia PA
Finding the Balance
My parents do not overpraise me, but I do not feel like I need more praise and approval. My parents praise me when I have overcome my challenges, or when I reach my goals.
It does feel nice to be praised by parents, teachers or friends, and I believe it positively affects me. Compliments allow me to work harder and it acknowledges my hard work. It makes me more confident and makes me feel proud. However, I think people should not be obsessed about praises. All people have different standards of when to praise, and just because you did not get a praise from that one person does not mean that your hard work is not approved.
I don’t think my parents overpraise me. I feel like I get praise from them when I need it. I never find myself showered in praises for little reason; there’s always an adequate reason for their praise which makes it rewarding. For me, it depends on what my parents are praising me about. I find that when they praise me for something that I’ve been trying to accomplish, their praise is welcome with open arms. But when it’s a matter of something that isn’t to difficult for me to do or that I don’t enjoy doing, I shy away from praise because it doesn’t feel deserved. So I think that accepting praise is a matter of whether it feels deserved or not.
I think praise is a very “fragile” thing, if you overuse it means nothing, but if you don’t use it enough you feel like you did not do well. You have to use praise just the right amount for it to be effective. This goes for almost everything in life, too much of anything is bad, you might feel smothered with praise, and you know it isn’t true.
I’m pretty sure my parents don’t overpraise me. I feel seen by them, and I also feel that they recognize my efforts and achievements. Because of that, I don’t feel the need to seek more praise and approval. As for praising myself, I feel I do a decent job. I think I’m still searching for that balance between arrogance and self-harm. Somedays I think that I’m awesome, and others I think I’m stupid. But I’m slowly improving, growing more comfortable with myself.
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What Are You Looking Forward to This Fall?
While this may be a fall like no other in some respects, the season still promises many of the same delights as any other year. And many public spaces, like the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, featured in our Picture Prompt “Fall Fun,” are awakening after a long spring and summer pandemic hibernation.
We asked students to think about what autumnal pleasures they are most looking forward to. Several said they welcomed the crisp fall air and warmer attire. Many anticipated the colorful appearance of fall foliage, while others looked forward to longstanding traditions like football, hunting season and the upcoming holidays.
Cool Weather and Cozy Comforts
In my opinion the best fall activity is just hanging out and playing outside with friends. Although this is something you can easily do during the summer time … I think it is enhanced by the cooler weather that accompanies the fall season. The ability to wear sweaters, sweatshirts, and flannels outside and not sweat uncontrollably is a huge plus. These new clothing choices bring a whole new level of comfy to your outdoor meetup with friends. Along with this, the cool fall air is a refreshing one to intake as you drive around town watching the leaves change from a summer green to a sunset orange and other varieties of colors. Because of these factors, fall truly is one of the best seasons.
— Sam Alles, Glenbard West High School
Leaves changing colors, a cool chill in the air, Harry Potter marathons and warm drinks. These are a few things that I start to look forward to when summer winds down and the fall starts to descend upon us. One of my all time favorite things I love to do in the fall would actually be considered boring by many of the people I know. That thing is curling up by a window and reading a good book. When I say “good book” I don’t just mean “good.” I mean a book I can really escape into, one that absorbs my mind completely until I feel like I’m in the world with the characters and it starts to feel like I’m reading about my friends, not just fictional characters. As I read I’ll have a fall scented candle burning and the chill on the window will make me snuggle further into the blanket I’ll wrap around me. Those moments of relaxing and unapologetically being and belonging to myself are the best things about fall for me.
— Alexia Elliott, Lubbock-Cooper High School
I’m looking forwards to sweaters, to warm clothes and soft blankets. I’m looking forward to the leaves turning, to the smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon in the air. I’m looking forward to warm drinks and cool weather.
What I look forward to this Fall Season are the cooler trade winds and less heat so it will be easier to social distance and say home. It will be interesting to see how the cooler environments affect the spread of this Covid-19 pandemic. Last year I wanted to visit my family in the mainland during fall break, but I’m not so sure I will be able to do so now.
Fall Foliage and Other Feasts for the Senses
A part of fall I always look forward to is drinking apple cider and going to orchards and hayrides. I like the way fall feels, it isn’t too hot, it isn’t too cold, and I can wear a hoodie every day, the air always smells like leaves and I like how crisp it is. fall mornings are always different, you never know if there is going to be frost on the ground or a new layer of leaves.
Fall has to be the greatest season of the year. There is something in every season that can be appreciated, but fall is singular in its fascinations. It is imbued with countless historical practices, with Samhain and All Hallow’s Eve, and the celebration of harvest … that ‘Fall feeling’ just has to be inherent. The smell of Autumn is biting and unlike any other, as Rilke would describe in Letters to Cezanne, “At no other time (than Autumn) does the Earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe Earth …” It has become a smell that we await with fondness, and the leaves wilting and becoming all hues of yellow and orange make it seem surreal. Everything about it is so alluring …
— Carson, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC
The fall brings many activities and memories that last a lifetime. I love fall, it might even be my favorite season … Every year my family goes apple picking-on a little farm up in Michigan. We get a short hayride to the apple trees and then fill up our baskets to the brim with juicy red and green apples. Afterwards we sit on picnic benches and munch on warm cinnamon donuts … I also just love being outside walking around when the air is crisp and the leaves crunch with each step. I can even smell the houses that are having a bonfire. I am so excited that fall is creeping up … my countdown begins.
— Ella, Glenbard West High School
Pumpkins and Ghouls
This fall I am looking forward to Halloween. I know that this year it may look a little different but that’s OK. What I really like about Halloween is the fun and anticipation. You get to watch scary movies and eat tuns of candy who wouldn’t love that. One of my favorite Halloween traditions is going to the pumpkin patch and picking out the perfect pumpkin of jack-o-lanterns. Then you get to go home and make your own scary pumpkin.
I look forward to certain upcoming events this fall … I’m especially excited for Halloween this year, considering it’s on a Saturday and there’s supposedly going to be a full moon that day. I’m excited to be carving pumpkins and helping my mom cook the pumpkin seeds, but I really hope the tradition of trick-or-treating doesn’t get cancelled this year because of Covid-19, since this may be last year to do so.
Seasonal Sports and Other Fall Traditions
Every year Fall is one season that I always look forward to. The change in weather, football, and dove season … It’s just cold enough where you can hang out outside and not start pouring sweat, and just hot enough where you don’t have to wear 6 layers.
Not only does the weather change, football season starts. Football is something everyone looks forward to all year, whether you’re playing, or just watching. Football brings families together to watch the big games, and bring teammates closer together on the field. Lastly, dove season begins. Going to my grandpa’s lot at 7 in the morning to shoot doves is one of my favorite things to do. The thrill of hunting for lunch is a feeling that is unmatched. Overall, fall is easily the season I look forward to the most.
— Kurt S., Lubbock-Cooper High School
I am looking forward to a lot of this Fall. The starting of the NFL again was one of the happiest moments of my year so far, my mom being a Chiefs fan and my dad a Texan; watching football is just a small thing that gives my life some sense of normalcy in this crazy year … I’m excited for Thanksgiving, and the chance for my family to gather around a table to eat, and be thankful together. But the thing I am looking forward to most is simple. I’m ready to spend this Fall with my family and friends, and make the most out of it that we possibly can.
— Brady Jacobs, Lubbock, Texas
What am I excited about this fall? I can’t wait for Friday night lights. These nights give me a rush because it’s my senior season and I got to give it my all and not leave everything on the field. I’m also really excited about the deer hunting season because you get to be outside in the weather and enjoying nature. It is just so peaceful and calm that you can be in your own world and do what you want instead of others. These days are the best and I can’t wait for fall.
This fall I am really looking forward to the continuing of football but not just the play, I am also extremely happy in the stances that Players and teams are taking in social justice. In years past, players have been ridiculed and exiled from the league for standing up for what they believe in, but now they finally have a chance. Players can finally support and bring awareness to injustice with more confidence. Something I believe is necessary to the success of our nation because without wide spread media coverage of these issue, they wouldn’t have been fixed … I am looking forward to watching some football and basketball and the messages the team and players want to send.
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What Students Are Saying About Justice Ginsburg, Parental Praise and Fall Fun - The New York Times
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