Anneshia Hardy | The Hardy Exchange
I've been reflecting on the ongoing fight for reproductive rights, reproductive justice, and overall body autonomy. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they each have distinct meanings and implications. Reproductive justice builds on reproductive rights by situating them within the lived realities of systemic oppression, and both depend on the principle of body autonomy to ensure true freedom and human dignity. So you see, body automony is directly linked to collective liberation and democracy.
Body autonomy is not merely a personal matter; it is inherently political. The right to make decisions about one’s body has been contested terrain in every struggle for justice—from the abolition of slavery to the fight for reproductive rights. Historically, systems of oppression have sought to control bodies as a means of maintaining power. The commodification of Black bodies during slavery, the sterilization of marginalized women, and the surveillance of queer and trans bodies reveal a consistent pattern of denying bodily autonomy to uphold white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism.
In today's society, the assault on body autonomy persists through restrictions on reproductive rights, mass incarceration, and the exploitation of labor. These attacks are not isolated incidents; they are deliberate strategies to perpetuate inequality and stifle resistance. To affirm body autonomy is to challenge these systems head-on. It is to say that no one has the right to dictate how we live, love, or exist in our own skin. Body autonomy is the first act of resistance against the forces that seek to control us.
Liberation cannot exist without body autonomy. The freedom to govern one’s own body is foundational to the broader struggle for liberation from systemic oppression. Liberation is not simply the absence of chains; it is the presence of conditions that allow all people to thrive. It is the dismantling of structures that deny dignity and humanity—structures that operate through the control of our bodies.
The movements that have advanced liberation, the Civil Rights Movement, the feminist movement, the labor movement—have all recognized the centrality of body autonomy. These struggles teach us that liberation is not an individual achievement but a collective endeavor. It requires confronting the intersecting forces of racism, sexism, classism, and all forms of oppression.
"Genuine democracy is not achieved by simply ensuring that everyone has the right to vote; it requires the eradication of all forms of domination that limit individual agency and freedom." - Bell Hooks
Democracy, in its truest sense, is a practice of freedom. It is a system that should reflect the will and needs of the people, particularly those who have been most marginalized. Yet democracy cannot thrive where body autonomy is denied. When people are stripped of their right to control their own bodies, they are also stripped of their ability to fully participate in the democratic process.
Consider the ways voter suppression and mass incarceration disproportionately target Black and Brown communities, effectively silencing their voices. Or how reproductive restrictions undermine the ability of women and people who can become pregnant to make choices about their lives. These are not just attacks on individuals; they are attacks on democracy itself. They reveal the hypocrisy of a system that claims to be of the people, by the people, and for the people, while actively excluding so many.
Democracy must be more than a promise; it must be a practice. And that practice begins with affirming the body autonomy of all individuals. It requires creating conditions where everyone—regardless of race, gender, or class—can participate fully and freely.
In order for these conditions to exist, there must be a radical reimagining of society—a society where body autonomy, liberation, and democracy are not aspirations but realities. This requires dismantling the systems that deny these rights and building new structures rooted in justice and equity.
I've been thinking about what this radical reimaging could look like. What should the demands be? While there is no perfect list of demands, I believe a starter list would call for the following:
- Revolutionary Policy Change: Policies that protect body autonomy, such as universal healthcare, reproductive justice, and decarceration must be central to our demands. These policies must prioritize those most impacted by systemic oppression.
- Collective Organizing: The fight for liberation and democracy must be led by those at the margins. Grassroots movements are the engines of change, and their leadership must be recognized and resourced.
- Intersectional Solidarity: We must recognize that our struggles are interconnected. The fight for body autonomy is the fight against white supremacy, against patriarchy, against capitalism. Our liberation is collective, or it is nothing at all.
- Cultural Transformation: We must challenge the cultural norms that uphold oppression. This means rejecting narratives that devalue certain bodies and embracing a vision of humanity that celebrates diversity and interdependence.
"Freedom is a constant struggle" - Angela Davis
I encourage you to conitinue to reflect on the intersectionality of body autonomy, liberation, and democracy. Remember that these principles are not gifts to be granted by those in power. They are rights that must be demanded, fought for, and defended. Our liberation is bound up with the liberation of others. To fight for body autonomy is to fight for a world where democracy is real, where liberation is possible, and where every person has the freedom to live with dignity and self-determination.
About the Author
Anneshia Hardy is a narrative strategist, scholar-activist, and social impact entrepreneur committed to leveraging storytelling and messaging for transformative social change. As Executive Director of grassroots communications and media advocacy organizations, Alabama Values and Alabama Values Progress, she leads efforts to strengthen the pro-democracy movement in Alabama and across the South through strategic messaging and digital strategies.
Co-founder of Blackyard LLC, Anneshia equips changemakers to amplify their impact in marginalized communities. With over a decade of experience, she has conducted narrative and messaging trainings for organizations like the NAACP and the Obama Foundation. Anneshia has also shaped strategies for landmark voting rights cases, including Allen v. Milligan. Rooted in the belief that culturally relevant narratives can drive equity and inspire action, she bridges academic insight and real-world advocacy to create lasting change.