The comprehensive rhetoric that is being resounded actually shatters the corridors of oppression and slavery in which women have been chained. The slogan ‘My body, my choice’ symbolically dares the inferiority of women and challenges the attribute concomitant to manhood. "Hundreds Protest Alabama Abortion Ban: 'My Body, My Choice! On 8 March 2020 Aurat March, many signs found a way to spin the main four words of Mera Jism Meri Marzi into statements like 'mera poster, tumhari marzi?' [1] Bodily integrity is the inviolability of the physical body and emphasizes the importance of personal autonomy, self-ownership, and the self-determination of human beings over their own bodies. The initiative "call[s] for protecting and promoting women's rights to make decisions about their reproductive health, bodies and lives." Pinterest. It is a cry of independence. Four state residents even filed a lawsuit claiming the mandate is violating their “personal liberty, and constitutional rights,” including their right to privacy. "[67], Author Jess McCabe introduces a glossary of concepts related to the slogan 'My body my choice' which includes Abortion, Bodily autonomy, Contraception, First nations, Forcible sterilization, Gendered, Heteronormativity, Institutionalized culture, LGBTQI, Prenatal testing, Pro-choice, Reproductive justice, Selective abortion, Sex positive feminism, Sexual consent, Social model of disability, Social mores, Social justice; in her book 30-Second Feminism: 50 Key Ideas, Events, and Protests, Each Explained in half a minute. WhatsApp. [63], 2018 UN Gender equality index indexes Zambia at 131 out of 162 countries. "[32], Issues commonly associated with notions of women's rights include the right to bodily integrity and autonomy; to be free from sexual violence; to vote; to hold public office; to enter into legal contracts; to have equal rights in family law; to work; to fair wages or equal pay; to have reproductive rights; to own property; to education. We must have the right to say that we can't tolerate sexual harassment and to say no to decisions regarding our marriages by other [family members]. [49], The phrase Mera Jism Meri Marzi, meaning My Body, My Choice in Urdu and Hindi, has some variations too, like Meri zindagi, meri marzi (My life, my choice) meri zindagi mere faisale (My life, my decisions). [54] The slogan is considered "vulgar" and sometimes, as anti-government in Pakistan by some critics. Company’s Financials [15][16], In December 2019, Malaysian Deputy Education minister, Teo Nie Ching launched an educational video called "My body is mine" to educate kids about 'Safe touch and unsafe touch' as part of child safety education and save them from possibilities of negative child grooming and decided to include the subject in Malay school books in subject Pendidikan Jasmani dan Kesihatan (Physical education and health). [72] The slogan has been similarly co-opted by those against the wearing of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘My Body My Choice’ – Jaweb. This culturing cannot be processed without power. In June 2019, the Vatican City women's football team decided to withdraw from a football match with a Vienna-based Austrian women's football club, since Austrian women used the occasion to display the slogan "my body my rules" on their bodies, along with pro LGBT slogans as a mark of protest against the Catholic Church's position on abortion. But what about the bodily rights of the preborn baby? Quite the contrary, it was the oppressors who forced ‘your body, your choice’ upon the oppressed. Anti-vaxxers Stole ‘My Body, My Choice’ from the Abortion Rights Movement. "[47] In 2014 Amnesty international campaigned with slogan "My body, my rights". TAKE THE PLEDGE In Florida, some people are using the slogan “My body, my choice!” to protest a government requirement about wearing masks in public. This website is for people who support freedom and insist that noone decides over your body other than yourself. We need to do is ask, “Whydo you consider the unborn child to be a part of the woman’s body?” The usual response is momentary hesitation, followed by one of three possible answers; 1. My Rights, My Choice"; "My Body, My Choice"; "We Have the Right to Be Heard"; and "Before I'm a Woman, I'm a Human. This extreme concentration of power has authorized men to decide the fate of girls and women regarding their life, education, life partner and patterns? "My body my, choice" is a slogan that is meant to represent the idea of personal bodily autonomy, bodily integrity and freedom of choice. [55] Others see the slogan as being only about "sexual independence", rather than about the whole sum of bodily autonomy. [65] Feminist Coven and Sistah Sistah Foundation have arranged women's rights Marches around the same themes with slogans like 'keep your policies off my body' to contest rape culture and raise their voices on issues like education and reproductive health to equal political and economic representation. [29], Emma Watson has worn T-shirts with the slogan, "my body, my choice" to bring attention to the need for funding of rape crisis centres in England and Wales. 751 likes. Facebook. [20][21], Concept of My body, my choice (Mera jism meri marzi) was discussed in a March 2003 article in the Indian women's magazine, Femina. Cerabino is not happy about it. The argument “my body, my choice” fails to recognize the baby is a separate human with their own body. Maybe you have seen written responses to the “my body, my choice” statements which reflect what these figures point out; biologically, a preborn human is not the woman’s body or a part of her body. [57] Najeeb states that opponents of the South Asian version of the slogan 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' believe it is about promoting prostitution,[57] and asserts that the slogan is a declaration of women's independence and bodily freedom. Politics Coronavirus House of … This contrasts to men's role as a moral agent, responsible for working or fighting in bloody wars. “My body, my choice” is a very popular phrase most commonly referred to when speaking about consent or abortion. The rhetoric discourages all kind of injustices in the form of; honor killing, acid attack, harassment of women at public places and offices, child rape, women labor in the form of childbirth, minor girls marriages to an aged man, forced child marriages, the Vani customs of giving girls to aggrieved family for ending disputes and that of domestic violence. This is a widely believed lie in our culture—a lie particularly fed by the abortion industry, and perpetuated by many in recent generations. Every single slogan of Aurat March, including the aforesaid one, directs to shatter the already persisting hegemony of patriarchy. 0. [27], In South Korea, the slogan of "my body, my choice" has meant choosing whether or not to marry and to have children. The argument “my body, my choice” fails to recognize the baby is a separate human with their own body. "[71], Some uses of the slogan do not come from a feminist perspective, but still form a concept of bodily autonomy. The writer can be reached at [email protected], Home [71] The collection was inspired by fashion of the 1970s and included clothing bearing the words, "My body, my choice. (my poster, your choice? According to UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, it is long way to go for all girls & women to have autonomy in decision making and means to govern their own bodies.[42][43]. [14], In 2011 Hong Kong started an anti slutshaming and anti victim blaming movement called slut walk. Even an arch portion of the society is not ready to comprehend the deep-down meaning attached to the rhetoric. “If it’s my body, then I get to punch the person next to me” is not an argument that sane people will find logical. [10] Like men, women too need to have right to choose their religion or what they want to wear (or not wear) and that the message behind the slogan is very important. ("My body belongs to me!"). One exhibition named Voices and Choices, curated by director Mmabatho Montsho, presented abortion stories and experiences with the mediums of photography, graphics, art and videos. On the other hand, the other body is recognized for its use in labor and exploitation which is generally associated with women's bodies in the working-class or with women of color. In this game, the women were equalized with inferior features like that of weakness and cowardice. [39], "My body, my choice" also intersects with class struggles, which are also concerned with "a refusal of biopolitical control and the assertion of the right to live self-directed lives autonomous of the demands of the powerful. While discussing choices surrounding reproduction, bodily autonomy is about freedom of one's own choices. To comprehend this social injustice and inequality, feminists have raised many slogans including ‘My body, my choice’ to quell this structural inequality and injustice. Each of these slogans and rhetoric is nascent steps to restructure the societal patterns. Marjorie Taylor Greene Says Pelosi Mask Mandate Violates Her Rights: 'My Body My Choice' By Jacob Jarvis On 12/16/20 at 7:50 AM EST. [25][26], The slogan Mera Jism Meri Marzi was popularized by the Aurat March in Pakistan which has been observed on International Women's Day. They provide the explanations of phenomena in the way as their interests are vested in. This is not the first slogan that has become hot-button. The supporters of the rhetoric contend that neither man is dominant nor woman is submissive. There’s simply no justification to hurting somebody else just because you’re involved with it. One of the claims of the pro-choice movement is that the unborn baby is a part of the mother’s body and that in having ownership over her body the mother has a right to do with her body as she chooses. The cognition allied with this rhetoric also contends for a gender-equal world with the least gender discrimination. [27] The slogan has been very controversial. [8], According to Suzannah Weiss, the slogan, "My body, my choice" is a feminist idea which can applicable to women's reproductive rights and other women's rights issues. 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Anti-abortion protesters replied with "Have compassion on the little ones!" In an alleged rape case, the victim in India phrased her argument in words Mera jism mera hai, mere employer ka khilona nahi (My body is mine, Not a toy to be played by my employer).[50][51]. However, many abortion-choice advocates understand basic biology. MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Hundreds of demonstrators marched to the Alabama Capitol on Sunday to protest the state's newly approved abortion ban, chanting "my body, my choice… Share. [22], In March 2015 a short film, My Choice, as part of Vogue India's social awareness initiative. [12], According to Anjum Altaf, the ironic history of the term is during the 17/18 century process of capitalism replacing feudalism, the slogan 'My body, my choice' was imposed by oppressor men on oppressed men in an effort to officially regularize bonded laborers own bodies as private properties and extending property rights over them.[13]. [9] In 2019, as the most restrictive abortion law in the United States was signed by Alabama governor, Kay Ivey, demonstrators used the slogan outside of the Alabama Capitol in protest. Thursday, December 24, 2020. Elmoudjaweb - December 16, 2020. In the Bangla language, the slogan is "shorir amar shidhhanto amar". Opposed to this, the problem can be fixed with the mentalities who think so. 267 likes. The slogan ‘My body, my choice’ symbolically dares the inferiority of women and challenges the attribute concomitant to manhood. Investor Information In late 1969 the slogan was again coined as a feminist struggle for reproductive rights and subsequently noted by the global feminist struggle. So, I fight for the right of women to have safe and healthy choices regarding their bodies and their choice to give birth or not. If it is presented so, it is because of the social fabrication. The fetus is inside her body, therefore it is part o… The esoteric meaning attached to this rhetoric needs an academic insight to be comprehended. "[29], Criticism of the use of "my body, my choice" in the United States often comes in response to its use in abortion rights issues. After all, this is the argument behind the slogan “my body, my choice”. But it’s NOT “your body or your choice” if you want to perform sexual acts for a living, inhale, ingest or inject “government unapproved” illicit drugs into your own body, or choose to not where a mask, or get a vaccine. [10] Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner writes that while it seems simple that women's freedom is linked to women's own control and decisions about their own bodies, in practice the slogan of 'My body, my choice' is too often changed to mean of "not really your body, not really your choice." [30], In 2015, in the United States, the slogan was used as a hashtag, to indicate support for Planned Parenthood, which was in danger of losing government funding. In a similar account, our society is the victim of patriarchy but still, many more can be seen engrossed in defending the traits of the patriarchal system. [19] Larissa Klazinga of Rhodes university, experimented with exhibition of photographs of various protest messages which women identify themselves, with a view of contesting objectification and injustices along with their naked bodies, with a concept that women have power to speak about their own bodies and decide how much to reveal for themselves. "My body my, choice" is a slogan that is meant to represent the idea of personal bodily autonomy, bodily integrity and freedom of choice.Bodily autonomy constitutes self determination over one's own body without external domination or duress. My right to my body is constrained by your right to yours. Your right to know By. “If it’s my body, then I get to punch the person next to me” is not an argument that sane people will find logical. [28], In 2012, an abortion rights demonstration in the Kadiköy district in Istanbul drew 3,000 women. Moreover, the rhetoric is a conscious effort to offer to escape to women from all the injustices and inequalities being inflicted on them. Winter vacations: Punjab schools, educational institutions to remain closed from Dec 25, Govt gives one week ultimatum to petrol smugglers to end practice, Punjab decides to sell, lease land to raise funds for mega projects, Court summons Achakzai for ‘inappropriate remarks’ in Lahore rally, POL import bill contracts 22.8% to $3.946 billion in five months, Efforts being made to facilitate workers registered under EOBI: Bukhari, Over 1,300 PIA employees agree to take early retirement under VSS scheme, Minister assures Sialkot business community of all-out govt help, FBR explains turnover from disposal of closing stock under FTR, Families of Italian Covid victims seek $122 million from government, Unilever expands partnership with Burger King to launch plant-based Whopper in Latin America, China, UK coronavirus variant likely detected in Hong Kong. It's one of the most common claims used to defend abortion. [57] Proponents of the slogan claim that it is being misinterpreted and misunderstood by critics. and "Women Need Love, Not Abortion." This page is created to spread awareness and advocacy. The phrase Mera Jism Meri Marzi, meaning My Body My Choice in Urdu and Hindi, has some variations too, like Meri zindagi, meri marzi (My life, my choice) meri zindagi mere faisale (My life, my decisions). Capitalism, gaining strength in 17th- … [37] According to Needa Kirmani this slogan disturbs those foundations of the patriarchy which controls and exploit women's bodies against their own will. But one photo stands out: A young woman holding a small American flag and a white poster showing a crossed-out surgical mask and emblazoned with the words " Cerabino is not happy about it. [29] Erdogan has said, "They say it is my body, my choice. Some variations in English include, "My life my choice; My life my rules", "My body, my rules. A preborn human is a complete, whole, distinct, separate, living organism. [56] Writer Anjum Altaf says that critics' attempts to suggest alternative slogans to 'My body, my choice' don't realize that this amounts to mansplaining by subjecting feminist struggle to patriarchal approval what actually they are fighting against. In German, the commonly used slogan is Mein Körper gehört mir! My Body, My Choice is presenting a new exhibition on the real stories of abortion and reproductive justice. The argument simply doesn’t apply when someone else is directly connected to those actions. [62] The slogan or "attitude" of "my body, my choice" has also been criticized by anti-abortion advocates as being an essentially "self-centered" choice. Critics claim that the slogan fails to include the fetus as an entity that deserves a voice and a right to bodily autonomy as well. Many more simplistic slogans, in the previous Aurat Marches, have also been made controversial. [19], Mera Jism Meri Marzi (Urdu: میرا جسم میری مرضی‎; Hindi: मेरा जिस्म मेरी मर्ज़ी; English: My body, my choice) is a feminist slogan used by feminists in Pakistan and India in context of women rights. [11], Background document for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) held at Nairobi summit in 2019 sums up, 'state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all aspects relating to sexuality and the reproductive system Good sexual and reproductive health' can only be termed to be 'Good sexual and reproductive health', to achieve the same, every person need to have a right to make decisions governing their body and to access services that support those rights. [33] According to Ursula Barry throughout human history the bodily autonomy of women has been contested. They, in most cases, might be the victim of the structural violence of patriarchy but they consider any antagonism to the incumbent structures as social deviance. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Editor’s Picks, Contact The rhetoric highlights the structural violence, injustices, and inequality inflicted on women of our society. [10] Mehr Tarar asserts that women's claim of rights over their own bodies and own choices is a God-given right strengthened by the finest of human values. [66], My Body My Choice: The Fight for Abortion Rights was written by Robin Stevenson and published in 2019. The society has been seen divided into two camps; one favor and other opposes the rhetoric. So, ‘My body, my choice’ is the continuity of the consciousness that challenges and resists the manhood’s long rule. My Body My Choice. People rarely connect that phrase with the simple act of choosing what to wear or drinking alcohol or shaving body hair, but it should be a … [13], Writer Zainab Najeeb contends that the slogan is neither a challenge to religious beliefs, nor should it been seen as scandalous. [38] Emma Fraser asserts that it is by a lack bodily autonomy society declines that women do have mind beyond their bodies and that amounts to cruelty with women. 4.25 Stars (I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review) My Body My Choice is a book that needs to be placed in junior high and high schools all over the world, it’s that important especially in todays climate. Our religion gives us the right to choose our life partner, so why not society? Compensation of what! But what about the bodily rights of the preborn baby? My Body My Choice. Latest News “My body, my choice”: Inside Colorado’s growing anti-shutdown movement Frustration at the state’s restrictions boiled over last weekend [76], According to Kyle Munkittrick in Discover, "My body my choice" is a somatic right that can also be claimed by transhumanists. [31], In 2017 Protest in Lusaka for Women's empowerment issues Zambian women marched with slogans like "My Body, My Sexuality. Conservatives are now crying "my body, my choice" over wearing masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 but keep fighting the pro-choice movement. ", When the 2015 viral short film, My Choice, starring Deepika Padukone, was released, it received a largely negative response on social media. The race and class of a woman can determine whether her body will be treated as decoration and protected, which is associated with middle or upper-class women's bodies.