wo)man’s best friend

clothing. Printed on each woman’s skin are pieces of transcript from Supreme Court cases in which RBG fought for justice, equality, and empowerment for the marginalized. These cases include United States v. Virginia (1995), Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (2007), Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), and Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt (2016). Ginsberg’s voice and these monumental cases led to more access to education for women, a leap to close the gender wage gap, better health care for people with disabilities, added protection of abortion rights, and the legalization of same-sex marriage. I wear the triumphs of these court cases on my skin every day as a reminder of her voice, my privilege, and all the work that is left to be done.

Though at times it may feel like marriage equality has been around forever, let Her Honor remind you that this fight has only been “won” for 6 years. Though Roe v. Wade was passed more than 50 years ago, women were still not being granted access to safe abortion care less than 5 years go (and the fight continues today). And though the gender wage gap may be growing smaller, let her honor remind you that we have been advocating for ourselves for more than 150 years.

I wanted to create a collar that Ginsberg could wear as a physical reminder of all the women and marginalized people she continues to serve and save. The collar appears to be fragile in delicate paper and frayed lace, however, it is born of steel. Like our bodies, culture, and feminism, Her Honor will continue to grow and change over time. Though the paper and steel will begin to decay, the court cases will become illegible, and the collar’s shape will lose its form, the rusting, fading, and wilting of the collar will continue to grow into something new. Her Honor commemorates Ginsberg’s legacy and stands as a symbol for change and growth.

I ran from the car to the house, excitement flooding through my veins. The breeder was expecting our arrival, so I sprinted through the stranger’s open door ahead of my family. There were four yellow Labrador puppies playing with each other in the kitchen. They were nibbling on each other’s ears and fighting over toys— ugh, behaving just like my brothers. I turned my head and noticed a fifth puppy, all alone, hiding in the cage. I hesitantly went over to the cage and tried to coax the puppy out. Initially hesitant to trust me, the puppy gave my hand a sniff before kissing it. I picked the puppy up and discovered she was the only girl. She was a little smaller than her siblings and seemed afraid to play with them. I knew that this was the puppy I needed to bring home.

You see, I had four brothers as well and knew how hard it could be to play with them. I showed her to my brothers and my parents, and luckily they all fell in love with her. I went into the house carrying only my joy, but I knew I would leave carrying a new puppy. That day my journey with Sophie began.

On the way home, Sophie sat on my lap and she fell asleep. She looked peaceful and happy. I wanted her to stay like that forever. *** It was my first day of elementary school. I packed my backpack with all of its necessities. I had notebooks, pencils, and erasers. My mom was walking me to the bus stop when I realized I forgot something.

Mom, we have to go back home. Quickly. I forgot to say bye to Sophie. She’s going to miss me while I’m away today. Who is going to play with her?

My mom and I ran home so I could give Sophie a hug and say goodbye. I didn’t know what she’d do without me. I was always home for her. I picked up my backpack again and I went to school for the first time.

*** It was my first day of middle school. My backpack was much heavier now. I still had the necessities, but now I had English, History, and Science books, too. I was meeting a lot of new people, but I couldn’t seem to find any friends. Kids called me anorexic. Kids called me chipmunk cheeks. Kids avoided me in the hallways. They thought Crohn’s disease was contagious and that I’d somehow infect them. Even people who I had known for years made fun of me. My shoulders were hunched because of my backpack and despair. Every day I would come home and take my backpack off, throw it in the corner, and then sit down and watch “Gilmore Girls.” Every day my mom would ask how school was and I’d say it was fine. Every day Sophie would come sit down next to me, not asking any questions, but somehow, she would pick up on my sadness and comfort me.

*** It was my first day of high school. I woke up early and thought I was the only one awake. My house was dark, and I was scared. I turned my light on and walked down the stairs slowly listening for a murderer that I knew for certain would be hiding in my house. I got to the bottom of the stairs and I found Sophie there. She followed me around as I got ready, helping ease my fear. I knew my dog would keep me safe. I put on my backpack and it was heavier than ever; I had all of the usual school materials, but now I carried gym clothes and my clarinet. I walked out the door to go to my bus stop and Sophie tried to follow me. I gave her a hug and a kiss, and I let her know that I was okay and ready for the day. *** It was October 31st, 2011. Most know it as Halloween, but I know it

as Sophie’s birthday. She turned 10. To celebrate I brought her trick-or-treating with me and the friends I had finally made. I didn’t have a backpack with me, but I had a pillowcase and the best pet I could ask for.

*** It was May 4th, 2012. It was the day of my junior prom. Someone had actually asked me to a dance—I had a date! I spent the day getting ready. Sophie could sense my excitement; she kept following me around and licking me. She had recently gone blind and kept stepping on the bottom of my dress, but I didn’t care. I had never felt better about myself. I picked up my silver handbag and walked to my door saying goodbye to my parents, and of course Sophie followed. I gave her a hug goodbye and I walked to my date’s car feeling ready to take on the world. *** It was my last day of junior year. I didn’t even bring a backpack to school because I knew it was just extra weight. When I got up for school that day, Sophie wasn’t there to protect me from the murderer. She was sleeping. She hadn’t been too energetic lately. Even though I didn’t have a backpack, I still felt a weight on my shoulders. My dog, my puppy, my best friend, was sick and I couldn’t help her.

*** It was the first Friday of summer vacation. I packed my beach bag with all the beach necessities: a book, a towel, sunblock, lunch, and a bucket. Melissa and I wanted to start off vacation with a perfect girls’ day. We had barely been at the beach for two hours when I got a call from my mom.

Catie, Sophie isn’t going to make it. If you come home now, you’ll be able to say goodbye. Just hurry.

I burst out into tears. Melissa drove me home as fast as she could.

Even through my disease, the hospitalizations, the bullying, she had never seen me cry. She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t lift reality off my back. My dog was dying. She wouldn’t be here in a few hours. Medicine worked for me, but it did not work for her. Why is this happening?

It was 4 o’clock on the first Friday of summer vacation. I had just gotten home, expecting to see Sophie as soon as I walked through the door, but she was not there waiting for me. I ran around the house and finally I found her outside, surrounded by my siblings. I smelled her before I saw her though. She smelled like death; cancer had taken over her body. The vet could not stop the rapid spread. That day she fell asleep in a rose bush, in so much pain that the thorns did not seem to bother her. My brothers and I carried her from the rose bush to the car. She was too weak to walk. I sat down next to her and I cried and told her how great of a dog she was. I said sorry for not always making time for her, I said sorry for not taking her on more walks, I said sorry for not playing more fetch with her, and I said sorry for not sneaking her extra dog treats. On the way to the vet she fell asleep in my lap, and even though she was sick, it was the most at peace I had seen her in a long time. I said bye to her one last time before we brought her in.

*** It was 6 o’clock on the first Friday of summer vacation. My dog was gone and I was in my yard crying. My brothers and I had dug a hole. I grabbed my Clarinet from my backpack and played “Taps” while we put Sophie in. I had just realized that she wouldn’t be there on my first day of college. She would not see me graduate or see me on the first day of my first job. She saw how happy I was to have a date to a dance, but she’d never see how happy I’d be to have a partner. She’d never see anything again, she was gone.