Since the 1970s, the chant “my body, my choice” as well as other similar phrases — “my uterus, my rules”, “bans off our bodies”, “not your body”, etc.–  have been prevalent in talks and protests over bodily autonomy and reproductive healthcare. Shortly after the re-election of President Donald J. Trump during the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, a new chant exponentially rose in popularity among the American people.

 On Nov. 5, 2024 (Election Day), Nick Fuentes, a far-right streamer and influencer, went viral for his post on X that read: “Your body, my choice. Forever”. Since it was posted, there have been 101.3 million views and 36,000 reposts, some proclaiming their strong agreement and others emphasizing the absurdity of his statement.

Other similar posts have also gone viral in the days following the election. Jon Miller, a former contributor to The Blaze, a conservative media outlet, said, “women threatening sex strikes like LMAO as if you have a say”. 

Additionally, calls for the repeal of the 19th Amendment, which gives women the right to vote, also skyrocketed 663 percent on X as well. And, believe it or not, Andrew Tate, a manosphere influencer — a term used for promoters of masculinity and misogyny –, posted on Nov. 7, 2024 that while driving, he “saw a woman crossing the road today but [he] just kept [his] foot down. Right of way? You no longer have rights.” 

To further put this into perspective, from Nov 7, 2024 to Nov. 8, 2024, there was a 4,600 percent increase in mentions of misogynistic language like “your body, my choice” and “get back in the kitchen” on X, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.  

Many female social media influencers have noticed an increase of “your body, my choice” comments under their posts as well. One TikTok creator stated, “I had to delete a video because I was being threatened and several men commenting [sic] saying they couldn’t wait until I get raped or ‘your body, my choice’”.

On these widespread platforms,comments could seem less personalized and unserious, but the harmful attitudes towards women are not endemic to social media. Many young girls and parents have spoken out about boys chanting the phrase to them in school classrooms. University students have been told to “sleep with one eye open tonight”. The targeting of this phrase has become so common that school districts stepped in as well. 

Cory Hirsbrunner, the superintendent of the Stevens Point School District in Wisconsin, wrote in an email to parents about this widespread use, stating that “it is simply unacceptable for students to use any language that is threatening in nature. Any students found to have violated school district policy will be subject to disciplinary action.”

Experiencing all of this targeted hate around them, many American women are taking a stand and finding a home in a South Korean feminist movement, the 4B movement. Women who join the 4B movement follow four rules: no dating men, no marrying men, no sex with men, and no childbirth. Advocates say that their goal is to protest the anti-abortion, misogynistic policies that Trump and other toxic Republicans have created. 

“There’s nothing more chilling than the ‘your body, my choice’ statement that’s gone viral. Is it any wonder that women believe there’s a target on their bodies?” said Leora Tanenbaum, author of books about sexist culture and gender double standards, in an interview with Alyssa Goldberg of USA Today. 

Looking around and reading about all of what’s happening, it’s easy to wonder: What outline is this to young children  who see their president going out for brunch with individuals who preach racist, sexist and  homophobic ignorant remarks? 

To all of the individuals who are wielding this phrase as a bloody, vicious sword, the 170 million women in America ask that it is sheathed away. “Your body, my choice” is not only an attack on a woman’s bodily autonomy and her right to seek abortion care but an attack on a woman’s personhood, the right to live her life in a healthy, fulfilling, educated way that she chooses for herself. 

A “real”, confident, masculine man is one who respects his fellow people. One who doesn’t make their own puny slogan to puff up their ego but instead one who acknowledges and grieves the fact that his  fellow people’s bodies are being violated by others who have no say. 

If any of you are oppressed by this phrase or hear it used anywhere in MHS’ hallways and classrooms, there are people that stand with you. There are people who have your back, who will try their very hardest to create policy and change,  who will not only provide you with more than thoughts and prayers. Please report it and/or confront the violator. 

We do all of this because whoever you are, whichever stage of life you’re in, wherever you’ve come from, and whatever you’ve experienced, you have control over your own body. No one, not your spouse, parent, sibling, friend, teacher, government official, or any bigoted ex-YouTuber can tell you otherwise.