Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she has "no doubt" sexism played a role in Democrat Hillary Clinton's loss in last year's presidential election in an interview with CBS This Morning anchor Charlie Rose.
When asked in the interview, which aired on Wednesday, if sexism was decisive in the election, she said "there were so many things that might have been decisive, but that was a major, major factor."
Ginsburg, however, did say that she was optimistic about the strides women have been making.
"To see the entrance of women into places where they were not there before is a hopeful sign," she said.
The justice mentioned as one example that when she joined the Supreme Court in 1993 there were only six women in the Senate, but today there are 21.
Rose pointed out that as the country becomes more divisive and the two other branches of government have fallen in stature in the eyes of the public, the Supreme Court has become more trusted.
"We know how to disagree without being disagreeable" is the reason for this, Ginsburg said.
She also stressed that each individual must do his or her part for the future of American democracy.
"If you care about the future of your country, if you care about the future of your children and your grandchildren, you have to be part of the struggle."