A Vote for Her Voice: Why Protecting Women’s Rights is Personal for Us All
This year, a question looms on our ballots that seems simple yet carries immense weight: Should women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies? As a society, this question shouldn’t require debate. And yet, here we are—asking voters to determine whether autonomy over our bodies is something to be granted or withheld.
For me, this is not just a question of politics or ideology. It's a question of safety, dignity, and the right to feel whole in our own bodies. At 15, I encountered a situation that forever altered my understanding of consent, control, and choice. I didn’t know then what was happening to me or that my voice and agency could be disregarded so completely. But I do know now, and it's precisely why I believe our votes this year carry such profound significance.
My Story
When I was just a teenager, I didn’t fully understand what autonomy or choice meant. I was 15—still discovering who I was and still trusting that the world was fundamentally a safe place. I wasn’t prepared to process the experience of waking up to find myself violated, my sense of control and trust shattered. I hadn’t given permission, yet that boundary had been crossed without my knowledge or ability to consent. I was left with feelings I couldn’t even name, grappling with fear, confusion, and a growing sense of injustice.
As young as I was, I now recognize that my experience was an assertion of someone else’s power over me, a power I did not give. It was a lesson I never wanted to learn, and it’s one that haunts many women throughout their lives.
Why This Election Matters
Fast forward to today, and it feels painfully ironic that we are still debating whether women should have control over their bodies. For survivors like me, this question isn’t abstract. It’s rooted in real experiences that speak to the vulnerability of women and young girls who deserve the right to autonomy, safety, and respect.
This year, when we vote on women’s rights, we are not merely voting on policy; we are making a statement about who deserves to control our bodies—ourselves or someone else. For young women and girls, this question is even more pressing. Many, like my 15-year-old self, are still finding their voices, still learning how to stand up in a world that sometimes disregards their boundaries and choices.
A Call for Empathy and Action
I share my story not for sympathy but to illustrate the urgency of protecting autonomy for every woman and girl. Our society should be one where no one questions our right to make decisions about our own bodies, where every person’s dignity is upheld, and where control is not stripped away by force or by law. Voting to protect women’s rights is a vote to support safety, dignity, and the personal freedom we all deserve.
In the end, this election isn’t just about politics; it’s about compassion, empathy, and respect for every person’s right to live free from harm and control. When we vote to protect autonomy, we vote for a future where no young woman has to grow up without a voice over her own body.
