Bodily autonomy is at the heart of women’s rights, BIPOC rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights. It is a core human right.
Liberty is having agency over one’s own destiny and decisions. Liberty cannot truly exist without the ability to govern what happens to and with one’s own body.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
– U.S. Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson
We can argue with our opposition about when “life” begins and not come to an agreement. We cannot, however, argue that as a human being living in the United States, it is acknowledged that we have been granted “by our Creator” and our founding fathers the unalienable rights of Liberty, with a capital L, and the pursuit of happiness.
We can pursue happiness our whole lives and not find it or only have moments of happiness amidst times of struggle. Thomas Jefferson said that we may pursue happiness. He did not say that we may do so as long as we won’t regret our decisions and actions at a later date.
This is where Liberty comes into play. As law-abiding citizens, we have had our “Creator” given, government acknowledged and respected, irrevocable Right to Liberty trampled upon when it comes to bodily autonomy.
The bodily autonomy of an adult falls under Liberty.
An individual’s Liberty is not based on whether or not someone else doesn’t like what we are doing. It is based on whether or not it is detrimental to others’ well-being. I cannot hurt you, take what is yours, or destroy your property and get away with it because I call it my personal Liberty. I can, however, choose to use and alter my own body to suit me and my lifestyle.
Legally, one can wear the clothes they prefer, cut, dye, and style their hair to suit their preference, and alter their style as often as they like.
A person can touch themself however they please and can allow someone else to touch their body however it pleases them. One also has a right to use all methods of contraception based solely upon their own personal preference and choice.
Someone can get a tattoo or choose to cover themself in them. They can pierce any part of their skin that they want. They can get surgery or use drugs to enhance their skin, hair, face, breasts, stomach, throat, belly, butt, and the size shape of their genitalia without having to get a psychiatrist to sign off on the procedure.
Everyone is allowed to believe what they want. Everyone is allowed to express their opinions and beliefs openly. However, we are not, as individuals or collectively as a group, allowed to force others to live their lives and make decisions about their own bodies based on our opinions or beliefs. To do so removes their Right to Liberty.
Where there is no solid agreement between opposing opinions and belief systems, as in the case of when “life” begins, we must err on the side of Liberty and personal autonomy. We must acknowledge that each individual’s situation is different, and as such, we are less equipped to choose what is best for them. Informed consent with respect to possible health risks for the individual is all that is necessary. In the end, the decision must be left to them.
There is a difference between informed consent and gatekeeping. Even adults need to be informed of the potential risks of specific procedures to the health of the individual getting the procedure, but that is where the government’s responsibility ends. To force someone to justify their decision is to take away their agency and their acknowledged “unalienable right” to Liberty.
Just because someone regrets getting a particular procedure does not mean that we stop allowing other people to get tattoos, piercings, gastric bypass, breast implants, reduction or removal, their tubes tied, a hysterectomy, gender-related procedure and surgeries, or any other cosmetic procedures or surgeries.
Liberty, as mentioned, is the right to personal agency and autonomy, so long as it does not involve hurting or taking away property, privileges, or rights from others.
Personal autonomy, “Liberty,” is a fundamental Right and bodily autonomy is at its core.
~ elr
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