Right to Self-Determination: My Body Is Not Your Problem

From the Overturning of Roe v. Wade to Trump’s Return: Why the Right to Self-Determination Is Under Siege Again

Now that Donald Trump is back in the White House, wielding strong influence over Congress, the Senate, and the Supreme Court, the spectre of patriarchy, dressed in institutional garb, looms more intensely over America than ever before. The question becomes more urgent than ever: who decides over my body?

The overturning of Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022 opened the way for at least 20 states to enact strict or total abortion restrictions, often with no exceptions even in cases of rape or incest. The right to abortion is no longer constitutionally protected and depends entirely on where a woman lives. The Supreme Court, with the three judges appointed by Trump himself, was decisive in overturning the 1973 ruling.

At the same time, Project 2025, the comprehensive program adopted and promoted by Trump’s circle, is moving to ban medication abortions, criminalise the mailing of abortion pills, weaken the Family Planning Agency, and even aims to abolish the Department of Health and Human Services.

Women’s reaction was immediate and striking: organisations like Aid Access received over 5,000 orders for abortion pills within 12 hours after Trump’s reelection. The telemedicine platform Wisp recorded a 300% increase in requests for the morning-after pill, while the website Plan C, which provides information on medication abortions, saw its traffic soar by 625%. Women are preparing in advance, knowing that when your “protector” has been convicted of felonies and accused of sexual harassment, “protection” is never a guarantee of safety.

Trump himself, in a recent campaign speech in Wisconsin a few months ago, declared he “will protect women, whether they like it or not.” The man who returned to the presidency while facing 34 felony charges, one conviction, and is a defendant in serious sexual harassment and rape cases, has already paid $80 million to one of his victims.

The social currents supporting this policy remain strong: out of 330 million Americans, 142 million voted in the 2024 elections. Men voted for Trump at 54%, with men under 30 supporting him even more (56%). Although women overall voted for Harris (54%), white women formed a critical base for Trump at 52%. These dividing lines reflect a deep cultural split where patriarchy is now clearly promoted as a “traditional value.”

Sexism and hate speech against women have been integrated into the political rhetoric of the Right and its offshoots. Public figures like Nick Fuentes, an advocate of white supremacy, continue to mock the slogan “My Body, My Choice,” twisting it into “Your Body, My Choice.” Andrew Tate, known for trafficking accusations and abusive rhetoric, is preparing his return to the U.S., capitalising on the new political climate. Trump’s vice president, J.D. Vance, did not hesitate to call independent women “unhappy, childless cat ladies.”

The truth is that nearly half of Trump voters support abortion rights in many cases, according to recent surveys. However, this does not change the policies being implemented. These are men who are either sexually active or expect to be and who comfortably reproduce patriarchal stereotypes. Trump confirms them, selling a version of the American Dream based on male dominance, oppression, and enrichment at the expense of others.

The Democrats failed to craft a convincing and inspiring message to the working classes. The narrative of “woke excesses” found resonance not only on the Right but also in segments of the progressive sphere. The result is the normalisation of attacks on the rights of women, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people—a policy that legitimises control over bodies in the name of tradition, national identity, and family.

Self-determination is not “activism.” It is the foundation of democracy. And the attack on it is not merely political. It is existential.

My body is non-negotiable. It is not a “privilege.” It is not a threat.

My body is mine. Period.