What is Bodily autonomy?
Bodily autonomy refers to the principle that individuals have the right to control what happens to their own bodies, free from interference or coercion by others, including the government, medical professionals, or other individuals. It is a fundamental aspect of personal freedom and human rights, encompassing a range of issues related to an individual’s physical self-determination.
Key elements of bodily autonomy include:
- Informed Consent: It involves the right to make informed decisions about medical treatments, surgeries, and other interventions. Informed consent means that individuals have the right to receive complete and accurate information about their medical options, risks, and benefits, and they can choose whether to consent to or refuse medical procedures.
- Reproductive Rights: Bodily autonomy is closely associated with reproductive rights, encompassing decisions about contraception, pregnancy, childbirth, and abortion. It emphasizes that individuals have the right to make choices about their reproductive health without external interference.
- Consent in Sexual Activity: It extends to the right to make decisions about engaging in sexual activity and the right to revoke consent at any time. This includes the principle that all sexual activity should be consensual and free from coercion or force.
- Freedom from Bodily Harm: Bodily autonomy also includes the right to be free from physical harm or violence. Individuals have the right to protect their bodies from harm, and society has a duty to protect individuals from bodily harm.
- Personal Identity: It acknowledges that an individual’s body is integral to their sense of self and identity. Therefore, individuals should have the right to express their gender identity and make choices related to body modification, such as through gender-affirming surgeries or cosmetic procedures.
- End-of-Life Decisions: Bodily autonomy extends to end-of-life decisions, allowing individuals to make choices about life-sustaining treatments, living wills, and advance healthcare directives.
The concept of bodily autonomy is a fundamental aspect of human rights and ethical principles, emphasizing personal agency and self-determination. It is a guiding principle in the context of medical ethics, legal systems, and the protection of individual liberties.
Nearly half of all women are denied their bodily autonomy, according to data from 57 countries, UNFPA’s flagship report announced today. The 2021 State of World Population report, titled My Body is My Own, marks the first time a United Nations report focuses on the power and agency of individuals to make choices about their bodies without fear, violence or coercion.
The report examines data on women’s decision-making power and on laws supportive of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Tragically, only 55 per cent of women have bodily autonomy, according to measurements of their ablity to make their own decisions on issues relating to health care, contraception and whether to have sex.
The report also highlights the legal, economic and social barriers to securing bodily autonomy for all. Twenty countries or territories, for example, have “marry your rapist” laws that allow perpetrators to escape punishment if they marry their victims, codifying the denial of autonomy experienced by survivors of rape. But some of the most persistent barriers to bodily autonomy involve stereotypes, assumptions and misconceptions about bodily autonomy and the rights of women and girls.
“The few people who have heard of bodily autonomy associate it with negative ideas,” said Romeo Alejandro Méndez Zúñiga, a youth educator in Guatemala who was interviewed in the report, “because it affects the patriarchal male chauvinist system.”
Below are seven common myths about bodily autonomy and why we must abandon these misconceptions once and for all.
Myth 1: Bodily autonomy is a Western concept.
Bodily autonomy is about the right to make decisions over one’s own life and future. It is about being empowered to make informed choices. These are universal values.
Governments everywhere have committed, in a variety of international agreements, to protecting autonomy. Respect for autonomy is a core tenet of international medical ethics. And we must not overlook the incredible efforts to secure bodily autonomy being led by advocates all over the world.
Myth 2: There is no right to bodily autonomy.
Not only is bodily autonomy a human right, it is the foundation upon which other human rights are built.
It is included, implicitly or explicitly, in many international rights agreements, such as the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Myth 3: Bodily autonomy represents radical individualism; it undermines group decision-making.
Collective decision-making is common across cultures, societies and governments. But group decisions cannot circumscribe the rights of individuals. This is the case with allMarginalized communities, such as indigenous people, often face heightened barriers to realizing their bodily autonomy. This could take the form of vulnerability to violence, lack accurate sexual and reproductive health information or poor access to health services. © UNFPA/Guadalupe Natareno rights; bodily autonomy is no exception.
In fact, the realization of individual bodily autonomy actually requires collective action. Communities and advocates must come together to dismantle the norms, laws and practices that deprive individuals of autonomy.
Myth 4: One person’s bodily autonomy could end up undermining the autonomy of others.
Having bodily autonomy does not mean any person gets to undermine the health, rights or autonomy of others. Individuals have the right to choose whether to have sex or get pregnant, for example, but they are not entitled to impose these choices on others.
No one has the right to violate the rights, autonomy or bodily integrity of anyone else.
Myth 5: Some groups of people are not entitled to bodily autonomy.
Rights are for everyone, full stop. That includes bodily autonomy. Throughout history, we have seen many people – including women, ethnic minorities and other vulnerable populations – denied their fundamental human rights. They were told, in ways big and small, that they lacked the capacity or privilege to make choices for themselves.
These abuses continue today. Persons with disabilities, for example, are frequently denied their right to accessible sexual and reproductive health information and services. They are too often denied protection from violence; girls and boys with disabilities are nearly three times more likely to be subjected to sexual violence, with girls at the greatest risk. Some are even subjected to forced sterilization.
People in detention may be subjected to rape or denial of health care.
Young people, too, are often considered incapable of making sexual and reproductive health decisions. Sometimes this means parents make life-altering choices for them, like marrying them off before they reach adulthood. This has to stop.
Guardians have a clear obligation to make responsible decisions in the best interest of their children. Additionally, international agreements respect the rights of older adolescents to participate in important matters affecting them. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes the evolving capacities of children approaching adulthood, and calls for them to be supported with information, guidance and health care that empowers them to participate meaningfully in choices about their bodies and futures.
Myth 6: Bodily autonomy undermines traditions and religions.
Bodily autonomy is not simply about sexual choices and reproduction. It is about a person’s whole self, their dreams and potential in life. Most traditions and religions create space for individuals to explore their own conscience on such deeply personal matters as how to protect their health, whether to start a family and how to chart their future. These choices can be – and often are – guided by religious leaders and cultural teachings.
Myth 7: Bodily autonomy is just another women’s issue.
Any concern affecting the welfare of half of humanity cannot be dismissed as a “women’s issue”. But bodily autonomy does not simply affect women. Every individual should be empowered to claim their bodily autonomy. This includes men, women, boys and girls, people of diverse sexual orientations and different gender expressions. It includes people of all races, faiths, nationalities and disability status.
The report shows that men, too, can be subjected to violations of bodily autonomy, such as through invasive non-consensual anal exams. People of all genders can experience reproductive coercion – behaviors that interfere with the reproductive choices of others – and even rape.
As is the case with achieving gender equality, the realization of bodily autonomy will fortify the welfare of all people, men and boys included.
