Preface: This post is not intended to be directly or strictly critical of women’s reproductive rights, though the premise of my post is meant to provoke careful consideration and thought into the underlying implications of this particular phrase, acutely associated with women’s reproductive rights.
I’m not taking a political or social stance on women’s reproductive rights, but rather a philosophical one. The post below attempts to convey my point of view that this phrase promotes a shortsighted, selfish attitude that I hope resonates with my readers and sparks a thoughtful and reflective discussion.
With that in mind…
Few phrases are repeated as often—and misunderstood as deeply—as “my body, my choice.”
On the surface, it sounds empowering.
Who doesn’t want the freedom to make decisions about their own body?
But dig a little deeper, and you’ll realize the slogan is more self-serving than liberating.
Because in reality, our choices about our bodies almost never affect only ourselves.
1. Choices Ripple Outward
When someone abuses drugs, it’s not just their body that suffers. Their children, their spouse, their parents, and society all pay the cost.
When someone overeats until they’re diabetic, it’s not only their body on the line—it’s their family who picks up the slack, their coworkers who carry their load, and their healthcare system that foots the bill.
“My choice” rarely stops at the individual.
2. Relationships Depend on Shared Responsibility
The truth is, if you’re married, partnered, or even a parent, your body isn’t just yours anymore. Your health, your energy, and your ability to show up for others directly affect the people who rely on you.
“My body, my choice” pretends that radical independence is possible—but real life runs on interdependence.
3. Freedom Without Accountability Is Chaos
Yes, you can technically do whatever you want with your body. You can neglect it, abuse it, risk it. But freedom without responsibility is just selfishness in disguise.
Every right comes with a duty. “My body, my choice” erases the responsibility-half of the equation.
4. The Harder but Wiser Perspective
A more honest mindset would be: “My body, my responsibility.”
That phrase forces us to look at the bigger picture. It acknowledges the impact our choices have on our health, our loved ones, and our community.
It recognizes that autonomy isn’t just about saying yes to whatever feels good in the moment—it’s about having the discipline to protect yourself and those connected to you.
Bottom line:
“My body, my choice” is too small a vision.
Real empowerment comes when we understand that every choice about our body is also a choice about the lives intertwined with ours.
While the bulk of this post deliberately avoids mentioning abortion or women’s reproductive rights directly, logic dictates that the same principles apply.
Sex that produces pregnancy always involves at least two people. A mother who carries the child and a man who fathered the child.
The decision to keep or abort the child, or even the decision to have children at all, is never the sole responsibility or decision of the mother, even if the woman isn’t married to the father of her unborn child.
Every situation is different and the situation should always be the deciding factor in having a child, keeping an unborn child to term, or having an abortion.
Logic dictates that all parties should be considered before acting on what is ultimately the responsibility of the mother to decide the final outcome. To do otherwise is selfish.
And that’s the point often lost in our discourse on this issue.
-The Rational Ram
The Rational Ram 