Right-wingers are now using the language of anti-rape and pro-choice activism to justify vaccine refusal- talking about the importance of consent, personal autonomy, and ‘my body, my choice’.
But the two issues are NOT ethically the same. Not at all. And this is why. >
But the two issues are NOT ethically the same. Not at all. And this is why. >
Feminists have long argued for women and AFAB people’s essential right to decide what happens to our own bodies- that nobody should be able to force us to have sex we don’t want, or to carry a pregnancy and give birth against our will. >
> and over the centuries this has often been a minority view- the moral consensus was that compared to their duty to service men sexually and birth the next generation, women’s autonomy did not matter. Many conservative communities still believe this, openly or implicitly. >
But here’s the thing: an individual person does not directly harm others by deciding that she does not want to have sex, or give birth.
A woman who exercises her right to abortion will not force an unwanted pregnancy on the next ten people she meets.
A woman who exercises her right to abortion will not force an unwanted pregnancy on the next ten people she meets.
The key difference is whether the right to refuse a physical intervention puts others- potentially many, many others- at risk of serious harm and death.
Those who refuse vaccines or masks are not just exercising autonomy. They are deliberately and wilfully endangering others.
Those who refuse vaccines or masks are not just exercising autonomy. They are deliberately and wilfully endangering others.
‘My body, my choice’ doesn’t work when that choice puts the bodies and lives of hundreds of strangers at risk.
The question of whose bodily autonomy matters isn’t new. In fact, wingnuts who use the ‘my body, my choice’ line to ‘own the line’ have hit on something fundamental:
Human societies have always balanced individual autonomy against what they perceive to be greater social good. >
Human societies have always balanced individual autonomy against what they perceive to be greater social good. >
For centuries, it was perfectly legal- and socially normal- for men to rape their wives. The sexual autonomy of married women was an acceptable price to pay for what was considered a greater social good: the right of married men to unhindered sexual access.
And today, lots of people think that forcing women to give birth against their will is an acceptable price to pay to ensure that women are dependent on men, and give states greater control over reproduction. That’s why abortion access is under threat across the world.
Thank you for coming to my ‘rejected for being too grim’ TED talk.
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