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“Masculinity Meets Metal: Navy Ship Named ‘Ruth Bader Ginsburg’ Sparks Outrage Among Sailors”
By Khadija Khan
June 3, 2025
In what was meant to be a tribute to one of America’s most iconic legal minds, the U.S. Navy’s decision to christen a state-of-the-art guided missile destroyer the USS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (DDG-209) has stirred a stormy national debate — not over warfare or defense budgets, but masculinity itself.
The sleek, steel-framed ship launched from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard last week with full honors. But behind the applause and ceremonial champagne, murmurs of resentment from within the ranks are surfacing. And tonight, those whispers are roaring into the mainstream.
“Men are supposed to be masculine. You think we want to be in a ship named after a feminist judge?” said one junior petty officer anonymously via a secure source. “It’s like putting us in a floating lecture on gender studies.”
The statement, leaked to Defense Watchdog Weekly, exploded across social platforms and was amplified by political commentators and veterans’ groups questioning the Navy’s direction in “modern symbolism.”
A Sea of Symbolism
The Navy has long named vessels after presidents, battles, and war heroes. The naming of a ship after the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — a liberal icon known for her trailblazing work on gender equality — was announced in 2023. It was hailed by the Biden administration as a “tribute to resilience, brilliance, and American justice.”
“Justice Ginsburg changed the fabric of this country,” said Rear Admiral Elaine Brooks, the Navy’s Director of Cultural Integration. “She stood for equal rights and constitutional integrity. What could be more patriotic?”
But not everyone salutes the sentiment.
‘Woke Watercraft’ or Progress at Sea?
Critics, particularly from conservative circles, have lambasted the ship’s name as part of what they call the “wokeification” of the military.
“First it was inclusive training, now it’s inclusive ship names,” said Senator Travis Holt (R-TX) during a press briefing. “Our military’s mission is to defend the nation, not virtue signal with floating tributes to progressive figures.”
The hashtag #WokeWarship began trending by Tuesday morning, and forums like r/VeteranVoices and X (formerly Twitter) are flooded with debates over tradition versus transformation.
One user posted a meme of the ship with RBG’s iconic collar photoshopped on the bow, captioned:
“Permission to cry, Captain?”
Voices Within the Fleet
But not all sailors are upset. Some see the naming as an honor — and a necessary evolution of military culture.
“People think masculinity means rejecting change. That’s nonsense,” said Lieutenant Marcus Adams, 34, currently stationed on the USS Ginsburg. “I’m proud to serve on a ship that represents brains and bravery. RBG stood her ground in a courtroom — we stand ours at sea.”
A recent internal Navy survey (unpublished but obtained by FNF Weekly) showed that 64% of enlisted personnel under age 30 supported the ship’s naming, while support dropped to 38% among those over 45.
The Broader Cultural War
Analysts say the uproar is less about one ship and more about a culture clash roiling across American institutions.
“This is the frontline of a symbolic war,” said Dr. Marlene Ricks, a military sociologist at Georgetown University. “You have a hypermasculine tradition being asked to accommodate modern values. For some, that feels like betrayal. For others, it’s long overdue.”
The Pentagon, for its part, is standing firm.
“Names matter. Representation matters,” said Defense Secretary Leon Carter at a press conference this morning. “This ship represents American values — freedom, equality, strength. Ginsburg embodied all of those.”
A Legacy Larger Than Steel
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away in 2020, became a cultural icon during her lifetime — the “Notorious RBG,” champion of women’s rights, dissenting voice on the Supreme Court, and inspiration for a generation of activists.
Now, her name glides across oceans.
“She never served in the Navy,” said Captain Rebecca Lin, commander of the USS Ginsburg. “But she fought every day to make America more just. That’s a fight worth naming.”
Final Word: Tradition or Transformation?
Tonight, as the USS Ruth Bader Ginsburg cuts through the Atlantic on its maiden voyage, the debate back home shows no signs of slowing. In the bars of Norfolk and the comment sections of Fox News, men argue about what it means to serve, to honor, to lead — and to live in a world where symbols matter more than ever.
Whether the name empowers or embarrasses may depend on your perspective. But one thing is clear:
This is no ordinary ship.
And this is no ordinary Friday night.
Tags:
#WokeWarship
#USSNotorious