What Is Body Autonomy – Why Abolishing Such Is A Violation Of Human Rights

The body is ours, and it is ours to protect. However, every day, we are inching farther away from having body autonomy. From how many babies or euthanasia, where does our body autonomy go?

Is body autonomy really a possibility in our complex societal structure?

Or, is societal complexity just another excuse, a mere myth to stop us from having full body autonomy?

This is what we will be discussing in the excerpt below.

• The true meaning of body autonomy.
• Problems we are still facing in society &
• The problem with body autonomy is that too much of something doesn’t create a balance.

Body Autonomy Meaning

The quote that begins everybody’s autonomy discussion is

‘My body is for me, my body is my choice.’

This means only you have the principle right to make any decision for your body. No one has the fundamental right to make any decision for you unless you consent to it.

Most importantly:

Violating someone’s body in the form of sexual assault and necrophilia is punishable by law.

Government imposing decisions on body autonomy is also not something people bode well with.

For the UNFPA (United Nations Population Funds), body autonomy is a critical issue.

Through the societal looking glass, body autonomy is the means for reaching gender equality.

What Does A Lack Of Body Autonomy Does To A Society

The negative consequences for a society with a lack of body autonomy are huge. Here are a few.

It Is A Violation Of Human Rights

The fundamental of human rights is to have the right to choose. Not mold oneself in a certain way, but rather have the option. The lack of autonomy over the body might also take control over the mind.

Impacts Reproductive Rights

Right-to-body autonomy is indeed a subset of feminism. Without body autonomy, women will always be under the pressure to reproduce (or not to in some cases). This can create huge issues with the changing times where surrogacy is also in the picture. Affecting family planning and bringing a child in bad environmental conditions will become normal.

There is a fundamental global imbalance when it comes to our bodily rights. Today, women are most vulnerable when it comes to protecting body autonomy. In some states like the USA, abortion rights have been highly restricted. The situation is the same in Nicaragua and Poland.  

Why is it women’s body and their choice?  

Most recent research says that most women who are denied abortion stay depressed and achieve less for the rest of their lives. In a study with 1000 individuals, it was found that women who were denied abortion showed more signs of anxiety and low self-esteem to go with it.  

In response, 50 countries made their reproductive laws somewhat flexible. But other data shows that the use of modern contraception has been 200% in the last 30 years. Hence, we can conclude that women still have unmet needs in terms of abortion. The stats of some states will shock you.  

Places like Chad have only 27% of the women who can only decide about contraception of free will. In Gambia, the situation is slightly better. 41% of women there can determine that for themselves. But these are shocking red flags. It also shows that we are not taking the aspect of body autonomy seriously.

Increases Vulnerability

A person who doesn’t have control over their body doesn’t have control over other external factors as well.

This makes them more susceptible to coercion, violence, and extortion related to the body. When brought up with the idea of less control, they might not even be able to raise their voice against these extortions.

Heavily Undermines Equality

According to a 2021 census report on State of World Population, nearly half of the female population does not have body autonomy.

Unfortunately, it is denied either by their own family members or the government of the country they live in.

Currently, the USA is dealing with its biggest fight for body autonomy, when abortion rights as a fundamental right were abolished.

Many believe that if the government can take control over such basic rights, soon we will be left with no fundamental rights.

Restricts Societal Growth

By denying something as basic as control over one’s body, we are stunting development in our society.

If one is too concerned about how to protect their basic rights, they wouldn’t have the time or energy to explore their creativity.

Lack of body autonomy can also hinder someone’s will to express themselves.

Myths About Body Autonomy

Here are some of the myths about body autonomy that society has been feeding us for a long time.

Myth 1: Body Autonomy Is A Radical Thought

Many believe that having control over one’s body is restricting group decisions. The basis on which our society stands.

However, without the proper balance of decision-making, our society is simply leaning on one formula.

Plus, since we have yet to build a diverse body to make these group decisions, indigenous and marginalized communities often face injustice. This is because no one is placing their best interest first.

Myth 2: Body Autonomy Is Just Another Feminist Issue

Yes, the term body autonomy is seen mostly through the aggrieved eyes of feminism. This is because of the rising number of sexual violence issues. However, it is not just a feminist issue.

To give you an example of body autonomy, deciding something for the disabled community in the name of benevolent marginalization. Or medical decisions other than reproductive issues.

It is high time we recognize lack of body autonomy has a wider issue, affecting every gender, race, and society.

Myth 3: Body autonomy is not a traditional or religious approach

Maintaining one’s religion and tradition on one’s free will is something. But, imposing bodily control for the purpose of religion is a clear violation of human rights.

Religion and body autonomy can co-exist in a democratic society without any coercion.

This is what the UNFPA is striving towards, and creating messages for strict religious communities everywhere.

Until we break myths, society will keep suffering. In recent data, it was revealed that 12 million girls aged below 18 years were married off in a year. It was also revealed that there was a strong religious connotation in many of these marriages.  

Let Body Autonomy begin with children. 

Let’s start teaching children the good elements of body autonomy. For example, you can start by teaching the anatomic names of their body parts. That should include candid details of their genitalia. Also, teach children who are supposed to touch which part and at what age. We can also hold a casual genital lesson exam during the well-child visits.  

Secondly, teach your children- their genitals are nothing extraordinary. There is no need to use codes to define genitals. Children should know that genitals have three uses:  

• Urination 

• Defecation  

• Reproduction  

Maybe young children do not need to understand the process in detail at an early age. But they must feel that their body and all its changes with age are average.  

Problems With Body Autonomy

Without the proper balance of responsibility, no right can co-exist. So, these are the problems one can face when there is fundamental body autonomy with no fundamental responsibility.

• Adults might start imposing their idea of body autonomy on children. Going as far as making bodily transformation before the child is of age to consent. For example, injecting gender therapy hormones into a child.
• Depleting reproductive health due to poor decision-making or coercion by a partner. For example, too many abortions on one body.
• This leads to behaviors that are extremely harmful, like drug and alcohol addiction.

In order to cope with the negativity of ‘too much body autonomy,’ some laws are necessary. But the justice system and government should understand that each case is different. Therefore, with the right proof, the medical field should see everyone as an individual. That is, not to force any law without the proper understanding.

Busting myths and moving on! 

There’s a common myth that body autonomy is a Western concept. But the fact is that it is not so. Instead, it is all about letting you decide how you will move about with your body and determine your sexual health.  

The second myth is that bodily autonomy is not any fundamental right. However, it is the real foundation, the basis of many other fundamental rights. Third and one of the most queer myths is that body autonomy showcases radical individualism. But the reality is different. Lastly, some remote cultural groups live with a strange myth that body autonomy is not everyone’s right.  

Previously, we saw women, ethnic minorities, and others denied body autonomy. But it’s time we give them their fundamental human rights back.