Demanding bodily autonomy
This was the top scorer in the passion category for a teen essay contest for聽Americans, Israelis, and Palestinians that was聽sponsored by聽.聽The essay prompt聽was 鈥淲hat do you most want to improve about your own society and how?鈥� Scoring was done by the organization;聽the Monitor supported this cross-cultural program by agreeing to publish the top essays. Views are those of the writer, who lives in聽Phoenix, Arizona.
On May 2, Politico informed its readers of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito鈥檚 egregious draft opinion that planned to overturn Roe v. Wade. I was terrified at the prospect of returning to the pre-1970s abortion era. Unsafe abortions have stolen thousands of lives, but careful and safe abortions save them.
The words 鈥淟ife, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness鈥� have been drilled into my heart and soul. I have the right to live in a country where I can practice my faith and where my inalienable rights will not be obstructed. However, in the future I may not have the right to make decisions about when 鈥� and under which conditions 鈥� I will become a mother. Right now, I鈥檓 free to walk into a Planned Parenthood clinic and ask for an abortion. That right is not guaranteed tomorrow.
Why We Wrote This
As the top scorer in the passion category, this Heart of a Nation Teen Essay Competition writer shares her belief in a woman鈥檚 right to abortion as a way to respect the privacy of that decision. To read other entries, visit Teens Share Solutions to Global Issues.
I demand bodily autonomy in the United States. Bodily autonomy is the right to privately choose what you do with your body, without the undue influence of peers, family, or government. It requires a total upheaval of the notion that a stranger can decide what is best for you and your body. Although legislation is vital to this issue, it also takes the work of educators speaking out for the importance of bodily integrity. This means having real conversations about abortions. This also means making birth control, condoms, and other contraceptive devices free.
I understand the religious reasonings behind denying people abortions. However, I also believe that if someone believes in a higher power, their decision to have an abortion or not should be between them and their G-d. We should also engage in discussion with individuals on opposing sides of this argument. Conversation doesn鈥檛 mean compromise 鈥� but when a person feels heard, it is much easier to explain what I鈥檓 fighting for. I also think that in order to solve this issue, young people like me must begin speaking out more. Peaceful dissent is key, but so are nonnegotiable rights to our own bodies. If I could change anything, I would ensure bodily autonomy via education, access to necessary health care tools, and projecting young people鈥檚 voices 鈥� now and forever.
Avah, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, attends Shadow Mountain High School and is an active member of the聽Center for Jewish Philanthropy Youth Philanthropy Board. She is passionate聽about racial justice, women鈥檚 rights, and LGBTQ+ rights.
To read other Heart of a Nation Teen Essay Competition entries, visit Teens Share Solutions to Global Issues.
