I was saddened to read of the death of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a couple of weeks ago, as she had always represented the hope and determination we need to create a just and equal world. However, I was also saddened by the obituary written by two female journalists for the BBC. After describing her career long fight against sexism and her life long fight for gender equality, I was dismayed to read the following sentence:

‘She may have stood an impish 5ft, but Ginsburg will be remembered as a legal colossus.’

I have so many issues with this sentence I wouldn’t know where to begin. Reminiscent of Shakespeare’s ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce’ the sentence brought to mind once again the subtlety of language which is used to refer only to women and the word ‘Feisty’.

At am ‘impish’ 5ft 2 myself, I have often been referred to as feisty. In conversation, in introductions, IN PERFORMANCE REVIEWS! The correlation of physical attributes and personality seems reserved for the female gender and is one of the subtle ways sexism is perpetuated and reserves ultimate power with men.

Feisty. Formidable. Bubbly. Bossy. Bitchy. Cold. Emotional. Abrasive. Headstrong.

You can probably visualise a woman meeting each of the descriptives.

Now try it with a man.

Point made.

Let’s starting calling out the subtle language which still holds back gender equality today.

Let’s do it for Ruth who famously used to joke that there would be enough women sitting on the nine-seat Supreme Court "when there are nine" This is how she deserves to be remembered.