Milan & Friends: “Your Body, Your Choice” … but are you treating it right?

In my very first Milan & Friends, I want to touch on a topic that is constantly on the tip of every ones tongue, “my body, my choice.”

We are living in a world that bullying someone is ‘unacceptable’ and ‘body shaming’ on social media will get you blocked, banned and deleted. But what does “my body, my choice” really mean?

Many of us have one or two political issues surrounding our bodies that get us fired up. Many of you reading this right now probably have some hot-button issue on your mind. Who knows, maybe it’s abortion, marriage equality, obesity, plastic surgery or gender reassignment surgery. Just know that how you react to those words, determine which side you are really on.

What we all fail to realize is that freedom of bodily self-determination has three key principles:

1. “My body, my choice” means that if what you do only affects your body, you should have the right to do it. Period! That includes allowing someone to do something to your body.
2. If you want to have something done to your body, whether its a little lipo, nose & boob job, then you should have the right to do that. No one is allowed to dictate your life decisions. So:
3. If you don’t want something to happen to your body (e.g. getting pregnant or for it to be kept working at all costs (both in terms of money and dignity), then you should have that right as well.

Because you have the right to do something, you are also responsible for the results of that decision. For example, if you choose to do drugs, you are culpable for decisions you make while under the influence of those drugs. If you choose to modify your body and, later regret the decision, the fault is no one’s but your own. These simple concepts have a huge impact on not only current laws around issues like abortion, and sex reassignment surgery, but possible future ones surrounding technologies like genetic enhancement, anti-aging medicine, cognitive enhancing drugs, designer babies, voluntary prosthetic augmentation, and cybernetics. As technology advances, we will have more and more ways to choose what to do with our bodies.

As the politics of the body continue to generate controversy, it is important those on the side of choice and freedom of bodily-determination recognize where their allies are. Transhumanists and liberal bioethicists, yes, but also feminists, marriage rights proponents, sex worker advocates, those who would end the drug war, libertarians, and the LGBT community. These groups are fast coming to the conclusion that it is important we cherish our basic biological freedoms and protect our somatic rights.

That means arguing for pro-choice body issues now, in the present.

MILAN’S FRIEND SIDE NOTE: Don’t forget that we only get one life to live, why not choose a healthier route so that you can live and enjoy it to the fullest.

……… Do you agree?

Anyway, back to what I was saying…. And for those out there who find themselves pro-choice on some issues (e.g. gay marriage and abortion) but anti-choice on others (assisted suicide and genetic engineering), you’d best reevaluate why you have conflicting stances. You shouldn’t.

If you disagree with me, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.