ACLU Edits Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quote to Erase the Word 'Women' and All Female Pronouns

By Cassandra MacDonald  |  September 23, 2021

The American Civil Liberties Union is facing backlash on social media after editing a Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote to remove the word “women” — the gender she dedicated her life to defending.

Many pointed out that the organization had, quite literally, erased women.

The ACLU quoted Ginsburg as saying, “the decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a [person’s] life, to [their] wellbeing and dignity… When the government controls that decision for [people], [they are] being treated as less than a fully adult human responsible for [their] own choices.”

The quote is from Ginsburg’s written response to senators during her 1993 confirmation hearing.

What the late justice actually said was, “the decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman’s life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When Government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a fully adult human responsible for her own choices.”

Greg Scott, senior vice president of communications at the pro-life Christian law firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), pointed to the tweet and said, “the ACLU literally erasing women.”

Even admirers of RBG were outraged by the misquotation.

Some noted that it felt as though the word “woman” was being turned into a “dirty word.”

Conservative comedian and political commentator Tim Young wrote, “RBG is one of the most admired WOMEN in the history of American politics… and you erased the word ‘woman’ from her own quote… You guys are literally trash.”

The ACLU has not responded to the criticism.

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