my body my responsibility essay

Essays About Responsibility: Top 12 Examples and Prompts

We can’t take on the challenge of life without responsibility; If you are writing essays about responsibility, discover our guide below.

The word responsibility describes the state of being accountable for our actions and is one of the main elements that make us human. We are not born with it; instead, it is something to be exercised and improved on over time.

It has often been said that with power or freedom comes responsibility, which could not be more truthful. Each of us is gifted with the ability to make choices, and we are considered superior to all other living things on this planet. However, we have to make informed choices and be responsible for our actions, whether to ourselves, the people around us, and our environment.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. the value of responsibility by simon baker, 2. freedom is not the lack of constraint, but the exercise of responsibility by beulah west, 3. why responsibility is so important by steve rose.

• 4.  The Beneifts of Being Responsible by Frank Terzo
• 5. ​​What It’s like to Feel Responsible for Everything by Duncan Riach

1. The Importance of Responsibility

2. dealing with false responsibility, 3. freedom and responsibility, 4. what is social responsibility, 5. what are your responsibilities, 6. responsibility as a component of success, 7. a time you acted responsibly.

“It’s easy for us to become blinkered or out-of-touch when we’re constantly working with our heads down. Although meeting our commitments is hugely important we bear another responsibility, that is to invest in ourselves and in each other. When we can free our imagination and refresh our minds, we restore perspective and reduce stress. We find time and space to explore new ways to collaborate, be creative and enjoy ourselves to the benefit of our mission.”

Baker writes about why he thinks responsibility is important and discusses factors related to responsibility, namely trust, personal choice, and freedom. A feeling of trust allows you to be more comfortable accepting responsibility, while responsibility allows us to maximize personal choice and freedom. Most importantly, bearing responsibility means freeing our minds, enjoying life, and coming up with great ideas. 

“A lack of constraint means that you can not do everything that you want. In a perfect world this would be fine, but we don’t live in a perfect world. However everyone’s view of a perfect world is different, if this coincides with the law and you are happy, then you can be free still living under laws and legislations. If you believe that freedom is making your own choices then the only way that we can be “free” is if society does not exist.”

West discusses how just as personal freedom is vital to a healthy society, so is accountability for our actions. Freedom also has a negative side; it can be described as a lack of constraint in our choices. Without constraint, our actions may hurt others or even ourselves. Therefore, it must come with the responsibility to make these choices from a more thoughtful, educated perspective. 

You might also be interested in our list of essays about effective leadership . You can also check out these articles and essays about attitude .

“Taking responsibility creates long term resilience and a sense of purpose. This sense of purpose can be fostered by taking responsibility for one’s self by engaging in self-care. Responsibility can also be developed on a familial and societal level, offering a sense of purpose proportional to your ability to contribute your unique abilities.”

Rose explores the importance of being responsible for one’s health. It gives us a sense of purpose and helps us build resilience; however, we must first be responsible for ourselves by practicing self-care. This includes resting, exercising, taking breaks, and going to the doctor if something is bothering us. This makes us more responsible for the people around us, allowing us to perform different societal roles. You might be inspired by these essays about success and essays about overcoming challenges .

4.   The Beneifts of Being Responsible by Frank Terzo

“If we take care of our commitments, even if it something we might like to ignore, we feel better about ourselves. Each step we take towards being responsible and productive helps to raise our self-esteem and our relationships with friends, family and co-workers improve ten-fold. Being responsible pays big dividends – we have much less stress and chaos in our lives and we gain the respect of others.”

In this short essay, Terzo provides insight into the many benefits responsibility can provide you with. We must always be responsible, even if we might not feel like it, because it can improve our productivity, self-esteem, relationships with others, and overall peace. Though it might not always be easy, responsibility is key to achieving a happy life. 

5. ​​ What It’s like to Feel Responsible for Everything by Duncan Riach

“I hold responsibility when others are not taking responsibility. I was holding all of the responsibility, guilt, and shame that Billy McFarland was disowning. It’s a survival mechanism that I developed when I was a child. I had a step-father who was some form of psychopath or malignant narcissist, a person who was completely out of control and completely irresponsible. The only way that I could feel safe in that environment was to try to hold the responsibility myself.”

Riach reflects on a habit by which he constantly felt responsible for things out of his control, things as minor as events he saw on television. He developed this habit due to his upbringing- his childhood and family life were less than ideal. He is fully aware of his problem but still struggles with it. His case is an excellent example of false responsibility. 

6 Writing Prompts on Essays About Responsibility

Responsibility is, without a doubt, essential, but how important is it really? Reflect on the meaning of responsibility and explain its importance. Discuss this from a practical and personal standpoint; combine personal experience and research as the basis for your points. 

False responsibility is an attitude by which one feels responsible for things they are not. This is a widespread issue that encompasses everyone, from humble workers to some of the most influential people in the world. For your essay, research this phenomenon, then define it and explain why it occurs. Give suggestions on how one can identify false responsibility and work to stop feeling that way. 

The topics of freedom and personal responsibility are deeply intertwined; for freedom to work correctly, there must be a certain level of responsibility instilled in people so society can function correctly. In your essay, discuss these two concepts and their connection. Do proper research on this topic, then conclude this issue: are we responsible enough to be given total freedom? You may also link this to topics such as the law and regulations. You might be inspired by these essays about goals .

Social Responsibility seems straightforward and self-defining, but it is broad, especially with society putting a higher value on awareness, community, and social justice. Research this term and its history and discuss it in your essay; define and explain it, then describe what it means. 

Whether in your studies or at work, as a family member, friend, or even a member of society, we have a unique set of responsibilities that vary depending on the person. Reflect on the different roles you play in life and decide what your responsibilities are. Briefly describe each one and explain how you fulfill these responsibilities. You can also check out these essays about conflict .

This value is important because it is present in all successful individuals. Based on your opinions and research, discuss the relationship between responsibility, success, and some other factors or traits that influence success. Give examples of successful people who have shown responsibility, such as government officials, celebrities, and business leaders. 

When we are responsible, we are pretty proud of ourselves most of the time. Think of an experience you are most proud of in which you acted responsibly. Retell the story, reflect on how you felt, and explain why it is important- be as detailed as possible. Or, you may opt to do the opposite, telling the story of a time you did not show responsibility and thinking of what you would do if given a chance to repeat it. 

Grammarly is one of our top grammar checkers. Find out why in this Grammarly review . Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Your Well-Being Is Your Responsibility

Learn to recognize your unique needs and care for them well..

Posted January 21, 2022 | Reviewed by Devon Frye

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• The word "soul," in a psychological context, can be used to refers to each individual's unique, nuanced, and highly complex way of being.
• Our legitimate needs are often ignored because we focus instead on caring for and pleasing others.
• Pain, discomfort, and chronic stress are often signals of our "soul's" unmet needs.
• Each of us has the capacity to learn our needs, listen to our "soul signals," and care consistently and generously for our whole being.

There is only one you. You have been entrusted with the marvelous (yet frequently arduous) privilege of caring well for your whole being. You can do this through what I call "stewarding your soul" and learning to recognize its signals.

"Soul" may seem an incongruous term in a science-based context. However, I don't mean it in a religious sense. The roots of the word "psychology" are derived from the Greek word psyche , translated variously as "life," "self," and "soul"—making psychology literally the "study of the soul." Soul, in this context, thus refers to your unique, nuanced, and highly complex way of being.

What, then, does it mean to be a steward of your soul? A steward is “a person whose responsibility it is to take care of something,” per the Oxford Dictionary definition. You, in other words, are entrusted to care for your being.

Initially, it may feel overwhelming to realize that you're solely responsible for your health, your mindset, and your needs. And in some ways, it is—it’s an arduous privilege to care well for your whole being. As a complex, multitude-containing person with biological, emotional, psychological, spiritual , and relational needs, there is effort required in existing well. But with gentleness and with self-respect, you can learn to care for all of who you are and entrust yourself with your care.

As a child, you were dependent on others for physical survival and their interpretation of your meta-needs. Even with the best of parents and caregivers, there were likely some bumbling attempts to provide for your whole being. Perhaps your parent saw your need for affection as weak, and your emotional need was disregarded and buried as a result. With abusive or neglectful caregivers, it's likely that even more needs went unmet.

Yet regardless of your past, today your needs can be met by you. With intentional time and practice as a curious and capable adult, you can learn how to understand yourself and take ownership of your care. In other words, you can "steward your soul."

Why We Disregard Our Own Needs

As a practicing therapist and introspective examiner of my nature, I am aware of how easy it is to disregard your own wellbeing. Often, our legitimate needs are ignored thanks to faulty logic that tells us to care for and please others first.

I, for example, have learned that I need frequent movement. My physical body has limits on how long it can sit, yet I often bargain with or neglect that need: “Do I really need a lunch break?” Or “Should I give my lunch break to this client who seems to be struggling?” Pain, discomfort, and chronic stress are often signals of this unmet need.

On other occasions, I find myself annoyed at being entrapped in several lengthy and unproductive conversations with colleagues. My frustration in those moments was a signal: How am I denying and neglecting my own needs? Upon reflection, I realized that I had minimized my own emotional or spiritual needs that week. My prayer and meditation times were skipped. To counter an I’m-so-behind-at-work feeling, I canceled a coffee break with a trusted friend. To appear caring to others, I neglected my "soul."

Research supports this conclusion. Studies have affirmed that boundary setting in work-life demands increases overall psychological wellbeing, whereas poor work boundaries correlate with poorer mental health.

How You Can Guard Your Well-Being

To "steward your soul," you need time in your day to listen to and become acquainted with your needs—specific, protected time set aside for gentle self-curiosity of your hopes and desires as well as a tender-hearted exploration about the pains and discomforts you suffered throughout the day.

To do this, start by exploring (perhaps by writing your answers in a journal) questions like, “Why did that statement hurt me?” or “Why was my irritation so strong when she made that comment?” A quick daily check-in with the moments of peace and joy, along with the twinges of pain or fear , will reveal much about your deepest needs. This ritual of a "daily examen" is a part of some faith traditions, but it need not be connected to a particular religious faith. Rather, this daily "soul examination" gives you permission to learn what your needs are, as well as a method to do so.

Next, it takes time to restructure your world to care well for yourself and the needs that you may have overlooked. To begin, start by setting small, flexible goals and boundaries to progressively build a life that supports your well-being needs.

In my own life, for example, I've identified some personal, regular needs that may be unique to me but that are necessary for my wellbeing. Things like spiritual solitude, regular exercise, and even giving myself permission to run five minutes late to a client session if I need to use the bathroom are components of my own "soul stewardship." (As one therapist joked in the stalls, “Potty breaks are self-care.” Humorous, but revealing.) My needs will not be met without my recognition and ownership of these needs.

When establishing new boundaries, it can be helpful to establish an affirmation or mantra, like “My needs matter.” Then, when enacting the new boundary, internally rehearse the affirmation and visualize enacting the boundary. Research supports this: A 24-year meta-analysis concluded that mentally visualizing a new task increases the desired gain (although success rates vary by individual).

When I committed to caring for my physical being by allowing myself to sometimes run a few minutes late to a client session, for example, I experienced tension. I had to internally verbalize my affirmation: “My needs matter too.” Within a short period, this mental rehearsal and consistent practice built acceptance of this need, and I experienced greater wellbeing throughout my therapy days.

You can learn your needs, listen to your "soul signals," and care consistently and generously for your whole being. Future articles in this blog will discuss more specifically how to understand your unique needs and steward your time, body, energy, and emotions. In the meantime, affirm the importance of taking care of yourself and your unique needs. Give yourself space and time to learn from your "soul signals" on how to identify unmet needs. And lastly, commit to caring for yourself well.

Begin today stewarding yourself as if you matter.

Carrie Caudill, Ph.D., LPC , is an Associate Professor of psychology at Newberry College and practicing therapist.

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Essays On Responsibility | Responsibility Essay for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Responsibility: Responsibility is quite possibly the main part of human life and character. It is duty regarding one’s activities that make a human. It is a usually acknowledged thought that the individual who isn’t assuming liability for their activities ought not and can’t be believed, that they are not genuinely a person. In any case, in the cutting-edge world, we have the always developing propensity of the state to eliminate the possibility of obligation from new and new spaces of human life.

Being capable alludes to our capacity to settle on choices that serve our own advantages and the interests of others. We first should be responsible for ourselves before we can be answerable for other people. In figuring out how to be more capable it is significant that we know our constraints. It doesn’t make any difference how keen we are, there is just such an excess of duty that an individual can deal with. It is additionally imperative to recollect that we are not answerable for things that are out of our control, for instance, how others feel or how they respond to ourselves or others. Sharing obligation regarding both achievement and disappointment can prompt expanded duty to oneself as well as other people.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

What is Responsibility?

Responsibility is one of the attributes of our character which implies that an individual can react to his moves, can take a few obligations and confront certain outcomes of the activities that may happen. Responsibility is the state or certainty of having an obligation to manage something or of having power over somebody.

Unquestionably, individuals are not brought into the world with the feeling of obligation and it doesn’t show up on the double by wizardry fasten of the fingers. Duty is something each individual ought to develop it themselves; it should turn into a piece of one’s character. The absence of such an attribute of character or even its supreme nonappearance was never viewed as a positive component. At the point when you are dependable, it is simpler to acquire the admiration of individuals and to assume a nice position in the general public.

Short Essay on Responsibility 150 Words in English

Somebody’s irresponsibility can be not just bothering when an individual doesn’t adapt or doesn’t have any desire to adapt to the obligations, yet now and again, it tends to be hazardous. There are particular sorts of occupations that request a moral obligation, occupations where the absence of duty can prompt sad results or even a calamity.

Allow us to envision a circumstance when an understudy was to compose an exposition however he didn’t figure out how to finish this errand on schedule. A teacher would call the understudy unreliable. For this situation, there is no harm from untrustworthiness, with the exception of the understudy’s very own mischief. But on the other hand, how about we envision another circumstance. A representative of a Nuclear Power Plant was not mindful enough, pressed an off-base catch and it prompted a blast. This disaster brought about by the absence of duty as horrible results, it can harm the climate as well as can end individuals’ lives. Obviously, these models are misrepresented however the last one shows how significant roles and responsibilities are.

Long Essay on Responsibility for Students

The essential duties of a student are to learn and procure information. Their primary obligation consists of improving their acumen and broadening their psychological capacities. Shockingly, numerous understudies fail to remember this objective and spend their school days pointlessly getting a charge out of and standing by their time. Just later they understand the consequence of their imprudence.

School is the stage wherein students become familiar with the great qualities of life, for example, discipline, acquiescence, loyalty, ingenuity, regard to older folks, trustworthiness, enthusiasm, and so forth School gives various freedoms to the improvement of these characteristics. It is the obligation of each pupil to gain these fine characteristics of life which will empower him/her to place in an advantageous position later on.

Another significant obligation of the pupils is to set them up for the profession they need to seek after. It is in school life that the future profession takes root. During school life, one gets mindful of one’s capacities, restrictions and the various callings accessible. Thus, during this stage, they should decide with respect to what they should become throughout everyday life. School life is the perfect chance to settle on an appropriate decision of one’s vocation.

Students are the watchmen of society. It is their obligation to battle against all shades of malice existing in the general public. They have a huge obligation to see that treachery, imbalance, persecution, abuse, defilement, criminalisation of governmental issues, communalism, casteism, abuse of public cash, and so on, are discarded. Understudies have incredible solidarity to go against these wrongs of society.

Students likewise have an incredible obligation to assist the less blessed individuals from the general public via social work. They can offer extraordinary administrations by showing uneducated offspring of close by towns, building houses for the needy individuals of the region, undertaking cleaning drives, making public mindfulness on different social issues, and so forth

Social Duties and Responsibilities

Social duty is a moral system and recommends that a substance, be it an association or individual, has a commitment to represent the advantage of society on the loose. Social obligation is an obligation each individual needs to perform to keep harmony between the economy and the environment.

Social responsibilities are significant and assume an incredible part in each circle of our life. So on the off chance that we need to live in a prosperous and creating society, we as a whole ought to be cognizant about close to home as well as about friendly duty. Every individual from a local area has his own obligations and obligations towards himself and towards others which he needs to satisfy to keep the agreeable soul and to keep an equilibrium between individuals as well as among individuals and nature.

FAQ’s on Essays On Responsibility

Question 1. What is the responsibility and why is it important?

Answer: Responsibility is the state or certainty of having an obligation to manage something or of having power over somebody. At the point when you do what you have guaranteed, individuals consider you to be a capable and solid individual. This lifts an individual’s confidence and self-esteem. For a representative they’ll before long discover they’re given undertakings and tasks of higher significance, eventually prompting raises and advancements.

Question 2. What is personal responsibility?

Answer: Moral duty is having regard for yourself and for others as far as dealing with your activities and responses, feelings, and the outcomes that may emerge because of your activities/responses or feelings. Moral duty is accepting that as people we need to comprehend and acknowledge the job our activities or responses sway others around us. Moral duty is being responsible and not depending on others to characterize or approve what our identity is or a big motivator for us or add to society all in all.

Question 3. What are the benefits of being responsible?

Answer: Each progression we take towards being dependable and beneficial assists with raising our confidence and our associations with companions, family and colleagues improve ten times. Being dependable delivers enormous profits – we have considerably less pressure and disorder in our lives and we acquire the admiration of others.

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Essay on Responsibility

Students are often asked to write an essay on Responsibility in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Responsibility

Understanding responsibility.

Responsibility means being accountable for our actions. It involves making decisions and facing the consequences. It’s a vital life skill, crucial for personal growth.

Types of Responsibility

Responsibility can be personal or social. Personal responsibility involves self-care, while social responsibility involves caring for others and the environment.

Importance of Responsibility

Being responsible helps in building trust and respect. It also aids in developing self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

In conclusion, responsibility shapes our character. It’s a key to success, making us reliable and respected individuals.

250 Words Essay on Responsibility

Responsibility is a multifaceted concept that encompasses moral, social, and personal dimensions. It is the obligation to carry out tasks and roles effectively and efficiently, and it is integral to the development of an individual’s character and societal structure.

Moral Responsibility

Moral responsibility refers to the duty one has towards oneself and others, encapsulating the principles of honesty, integrity, and fairness. It involves making conscientious decisions that respect the rights and welfare of others. For instance, a journalist has a moral responsibility to report news objectively, without bias or distortion.

Social Responsibility

On a broader scale, social responsibility concerns the obligations individuals or organizations have towards society. It includes actions that contribute to the welfare of the community, such as volunteering, environmental conservation, or philanthropy. Corporations, too, bear social responsibility, aiming to minimize their negative impact on society while maximizing their positive contributions.

Personal Responsibility

Personal responsibility, meanwhile, involves acknowledging and fulfilling personal commitments and obligations. It is about taking ownership of one’s actions and their consequences. For example, a student has a personal responsibility to complete their assignments on time and to the best of their ability.

The Importance of Responsibility

Responsibility is pivotal in shaping a just and harmonious society. It fosters trust, cooperation, and respect among individuals and groups. Moreover, it promotes personal growth, self-discipline, and resilience. Embracing responsibility, therefore, is a stepping stone towards personal success and societal progress.

In conclusion, responsibility is a cornerstone of ethical conduct and social cohesion. It is an attribute that should be cultivated and cherished for the betterment of individuals and society at large.

500 Words Essay on Responsibility

Introduction.

Responsibility is a fundamental concept that permeates all aspects of life. It is a principle that guides our actions, decisions, and relationships, shaping our character and defining who we are as individuals and as members of society. Understanding responsibility and its implications is crucial to personal development and social cohesion.

Conceptualizing Responsibility

Responsibility is a multifaceted construct. It can be seen as a duty or obligation, an expectation to perform certain tasks or uphold specific standards. It can also be understood as accountability, the acceptance of the consequences of our actions. Responsibility implies a moral dimension, an ethical commitment to do what is right and fair.

Personal responsibility involves taking charge of one’s own actions, decisions, and their outcomes. It is about owning up to mistakes, learning from them, and striving to do better. Personal responsibility is a cornerstone of self-improvement and personal growth. It promotes self-efficacy, self-respect, and integrity.

Responsibility and Freedom

Responsibility is intrinsically linked to freedom. With freedom comes responsibility. The more freedom we have, the more responsibility we bear for our actions. Conversely, the more responsible we are, the more freedom we are likely to enjoy. Responsibility and freedom are thus two sides of the same coin, mutually reinforcing and interdependent.

Challenges and Opportunities

Responsibility, while fundamentally important, is not always easy to uphold. It requires self-discipline, moral courage, and a sense of duty. It can sometimes be burdensome and demanding. However, responsibility also presents opportunities. It empowers us to shape our destiny, to make a difference, and to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Roe v Wade: a philosopher on the true meaning of ‘my body, my choice’

Professor of Philosophy, University of Southampton

Disclosure statement

Fiona Woollard held a Non-Residential Fellowship in Philosophy of Transformative Experience at the Experience Project (September 2016-February 2017), funded by the Templeton Foundation, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has also received funding from the Mind Association, the ESRC, the AHRC, and been on a project funded by the European Research Council.

University of Southampton provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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The overturning of Roe v Wade harms all women and all who can get pregnant around the world by making their body-ownership merely conditional. This undermines their equality with others.

Many people are reeling from the recent decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade, so that states may now make it illegal to obtain or perform an abortion. For many of us, even if we do not live in the US, this feels like a personal blow. I use my work in moral philosophy to explain this feeling. If we feel personally affected it is because we are personally affected. The ruling diminishes the self-ownership of all women (even if they cannot get pregnant) and all those who can get pregnant, wherever they live.

The decision is likely to leave 33 million people in the US without access to abortion. These are the people most directly affected by the ruling. Evidence shows that being denied an abortion harms a person’s health, finances and family life . Those in the US who are forced to continue pregnancy may lose their dreams, or even their lives .

But the effects of the US ruling are global. Anyone who can get pregnant now knows that they cannot travel or move to the US and be recognised as an equal with equal rights. The same is not true for our male compatriots.

Of course, the US is not the only place where access to abortion is restricted so the development in the US amounts to an additional blow to equality, rather than a loss of what had been perfect equality. But the size and influence of the US make this additional blow very significant.

What is body ownership and why does it matter?

You own your body when you have the authority to make decisions about what is done to it and how it is used on the basis of your own interests and desires.

Body ownership is a fundamental part of moral standing for humans . It is through my body that I act on the world: when I bake a cake, write a book or build a house, I use my body. It is through my body that the world acts on me. When I am struck by the beauty of a sunrise, enjoy a cool breeze, find myself convinced by an argument, these effects on me need to go through my body. How my body is, makes up a major part of how I am: if my body is hurt, I am hurt. Body ownership is needed to respect the unique relationship between me and my body.

Body ownership is needed for a valuable kind of agency that I call full-fledged agency – the freedom to select one’s own ends and adopt a settled course of action in line with those ends. Maybe I value helping the sick and want to become a doctor. This requires me to commit to study for many years. I can only do this if I have at least some authority to decide what happens to my body.

None of this means that you are never required to use your body for others: it’s pretty uncontroversial that I am required to call an ambulance if the person next to me has a heart attack and this does not undermine self-ownership. However, for me to genuinely own my body, there must be limits on these requirements. I must have a say in how my body is used for the benefit of others.

Lack of access to abortion can undermine your body ownership even if you never actually need an abortion. If you can get pregnant but access to abortion is limited, then you only get to decide what happens to your body so long as you are not pregnant. You are not entirely free to decide on the actions needed to achieve your goals.

Indeed, I believe legal restrictions on abortion undermine body ownership for any woman, even if she cannot get pregnant and even if she never plans to travel to the US. Her control over her body still depends on the ability or inability to get pregnant and on where she is in the world. A woman’s right to control her body should not rest on such accidents.

Philosopher T.M. Scanlon discusses a “friend” who would steal a kidney for you if you needed one. Scanlon argues that this person is not a true friend to you, because of what his view must be of your right to your own body parts: “He wouldn’t steal them [from you], but that is only because he happens to like you.”

We need our friends to recognise that we have rights to our body parts because we are people, not just because they happen to like us. As a woman, I need recognition that my body belongs to me because I am a person, not merely because I happen not to be able to get pregnant or happen not to need to go to the US.

So all women and all those who can get pregnant are personally affected by the overturning of Roe v Wade – and all threats to abortion access. Recognition of why this is might help us understand otherwise puzzling feelings, both in ourselves and others. It might also help us to work together to defend reproductive rights .

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• Abortion rights
• Moral philosophy
• Women's rights
• Abortion access
• bodily autonomy

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How to Write Catchy Responsibility Essays in 2023

Writing great responsibility essays and getting them to read and rank is not easy. Here are top-notch tricks to help you achieve these two.

What is a Responsibility Essay?

Responsibility entails our ability to make decisions that serve our interests as well as those of others.

Therefore, an essay on responsibility has the following crucial aspects:

An in-depth understanding of trust in life The critical consequences related to it Factors that lead to its recognition in the society

Most students find essays on responsibility a hard nut to crack, which should not be the case. Read on to find out how you can craft a masterpiece responsibility essay for your assignment.

How to Write Essays About Responsibility: Structure

Now, to beat the rest of your classmates and stand a chance of attaining an A+, you have to master the secret ingredients behind all this. Keep your eyes peeled.

Before you embark on writing, a persuasive outline would correctly set the pace for you. What should your framework entail?

• Identify a Thematic Area of Interest on Responsibility

It contains the title and, subsequently, the basis of your thesis statement. Such should be a topic that interests you (and your readers) so that you can write it with a smile.

The topic should be:

• Relevant to your readers
• One that you can research on
• Precise and appealing to anyone who comes around it

For instance, if your focus is on personal responsibility essays, you can choose from the following topics:

• Maturity and personal responsibility
• How to deal with obligations systematically
• Personal responsibility and blame on oneself
• Personal responsibility plays a significant role in college

From these topics, you can then derive an A-grade thesis statement that will be the rest of your essay’s driving force. Here is an example:

• Personal responsibility is the hallmark of maturity. Here is why it is so.

There are many other ideas that you can use to start your responsibility essay to win the hearts of your readers.

• Determine the Different Sub-categories to Support Your Major Idea

After having your topic and thesis statement, here comes the heart of the matter, the body. You will need to support your claims with relevant examples, facts, and statistics.

Let us see great prompts that you can use for the following types of essays:

Age of Responsibility Essays

In such kinds of essays, your body should answer the following questions:

• What is the age of responsibility, and who determines it?
• Why that age bracket is considered responsible
• Are there any psychological factors related to that age?

Social Responsibility Essays

One can tackle this type of essay with the following questions in mind:

• What if all the members of the society were responsible?
• What are some of the problems, challenges, and conflicts in society?
• Are people relying much on rights and neglecting responsibilities?
• What are the impacts of such a trait?
• How can we all work towards social responsibility?

Essays on Responsibility and Accountability

Use the following thoughts to write your essay body:

• Who should hold people responsible?
• How does someone learn to be accountable?
• Do you think you people are responsible without someone else over them?
• What is the relationship between responsibility and accountability?
• Can an irresponsible person be liable?

Essays on Power and Responsibility

Liven up your body with some of the ideas listed below:

• Does vast power come with great responsibility?
• What should happen to irresponsible leaders?
• Are the citizens to blame for irresponsible leaders?
• How to attain responsible leadership in society

Remember that the body should present your arguments in a clear, persuasive, and amusing manner. The reader should get all his questions answered in the body.

• Summarize With a Logical Conclusion

If asked, a majority of students would tell you that the conclusion is not that important. However, contrary to that popular belief, the end is as important as the title, intro, and body.

The responsibility essays for students should:

• Be brief and to the point
• Not be a repetition of the points discussed in the body
• Have a call to action (asking the readers to be responsible either at an individual or corporate level)

Essays on personal responsibility are the cheapest to write since you can easily relate them with your own life. Therefore, take caution so as not to be emotional or add your feelings to the paper.

Personal Responsibility Essay Sample The KQ I find the most intuitive in ethical decision making is the “outcomes”. I consider this the key question to be my most important guide to the ethical decision making because actions have consequences and those consequences are not only limited to the person initiating the action but also other people. When we consider the potential outcomes of an action for different stakeholder groups including us, we can make the decisions that will advance the overall interests of all the stakeholders involved. This approach also ensures we do not only consider personal interests but can act in a selfless manner. I believe this approach also serves as a useful guide when making the laws and rules that govern the conduct of communities as well the greater society. I have been influenced to take this approach because I care about the social issues that affect the modern society and such issues include climate change, equal rights for women, and equal rights for minority groups. There are some of these issues that do not personal affect me yet I care about them because they affect many of the people I know and care about and they will also affect many of the people who have yet to be born. I believe I am part of the society and have benefitted from the investments the society has made in me. Thus, it is only fair for me to evaluate the merits of issues on the basis of their outcomes for the different stakeholder groups. I believe this approach also explains some of the laws that make our society better. For example, the current laws do not allow citizens to drive while under the influence of alcohol. This is because the potential outcomes of such an action also involve people other than the driver. In addition, the potential costs of such a conduct far outweigh any potential benefits. When we consider the outcomes of an action for all the potential stakeholders, we make decisions whose benefits are more likely to outweigh the potential costs. This approach also increases the probability of people acting in a selfless manner.

From the discussion above, any student can now be able to develop a thrilling and top-grade responsibility essay.

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Philosophy and Relationship between Freedom and Responsibility Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

What is freedom and responsibility in philosophy, relationship between responsibility and freedom, sartre: freedom and responsibility, works cited.

As a human being, it is hard to make a decision because of the uncertainty of the outcome, but it is definitely essential for human being to understand clearly the concept and connection between freedom and responsibility to recognize the existence of human being and it is only by the process of existence that somebody realizes or defines himself.

• A person may acquire freedom, but he has not fulfilled responsibility and this may keep grief inside him.
• Sartre asserted that complete responsibility should not be believed as resignation, but it is just the necessary condition of the outcomes of the freedom.
• Freedom is attained if a person accepts responsibility since responsibility and freedom possess a symbiotic connection in philosophy.
• A man attains his essence by personal selections and activities and it is only by the process of existence that somebody realizes or defines himself.
• The meaning of the expression that existence precedes essence is that, to start with, there is existence of man, develops, emerges on the scene, and, just eventually, defines his identity.
• The first clear value that Socrates declares concerning a society is justice and truth.

Freedom and responsibility play a crucial part in determining our decisions in life. As a human being, it is hard to make a decision because of the uncertainty of the outcome, but it is definitely essential for human being to understand clearly the concept and connection between freedom and responsibility to recognize the existence of human being and it is only by the process of existence that somebody realizes or defines himself.

Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand and if a person does not want to assume responsibility, perhaps, he will not have freedom since the two ideas accompany each other. If a person avoids responsibility, he will eventually undergo slavery directly or indirectly.

Some people can dream about freedom without considering that different responsibilities will accompany their freedom. A person may acquire freedom, but he has not fulfilled responsibility and this may keep grief inside him. Everybody can remove completely this grief through accepting both the responsibility and freedom.

Sartre stated, “the essential consequence of our earlier remarks is that man being condemned to be free carries the weight of the whole world on his shoulders; he is responsible for the world and himself as a way of being” (Sartre 52).

Thoreau (375) stated that the essence of freedom should be also similar in God and to the people, and this shows that every human being has a freedom of indifference.

Additionally, Sartre (98) asserted that complete responsibility should not be believed as resignation, but it is just the necessary condition of the outcomes of the freedom. Sartre does not agree on the existence of inclination or taste, permitting just “choices of being,” although this insufficient inspirational description does not allow someone of his responsibility.

Man can be uninformed about all his selections, but they are owned by him even so. Sartre praises the idea of responsibility; even though he permits that it concurrently attacks and frees man (Sartre 98). Thoreau states, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (Thoreau 116).

This means that by going to the Walden, he showed that he is free to make that decision, but also had to assume responsibility and find all the essentials in life as consequences.

Freedom is attained if a person accepts responsibility since responsibility and freedom possess a symbiotic connection in philosophy. In line with Sartre, every person is basically free and is free to create choices and initiate since there are no previous morals narrow their personal perception.

As free creators, people are responsible for every component for themselves, including emotions, actions, perception, and more importantly, people are free to decide. According to Sartre, “one may choose anything if it is on the grounds of free involvement” (Sartre 48).

Even though all people are free to decide their fate, they should, as well, accept responsibility for their decisions. Personal freedom of perception, hence, is both a curse and a blessing, and it is a blessing since it provides humanity the reward of free will to form a person’s life and the universe. It permits somebody to make an individual kind of values without certain limitations or restrictions.

According to Socrates, virtue and wisdom have close relationship, so his hard work provides to develop society altogether. In line with the perception of Socrates, if human beings are bright, nobody will ever do wrong, and their wisdom will result to healthier and more satisfying life.

Therefore, the philosopher, in accordance with Sartre, does not simply follow conceptual intellectual paths for the benefit of pleasure, but is dedicated in practices of the greatest moral value.

There are no specific reasons for judging a certain action good or bad, or right or wrong, nor are there any reasons for concluding that a change is moral setback or moral advancement. Sartre explains that existence precedes essence, which addresses that freedom and responsibility relative to human decisions or selections.

Only through action and choice do values form, for “value is nothing else, but the meaning that you choose” (Sartre 49). This notion signifies that human being, together with human reality, is in existence before any impression of morals and values.

Therefore, because no preformed essence or implication about the meaning of ‘being human,’ people should create their personal idea of existence through stating responsibility for and control of their activities and decisions.

As a result, a man attains his essence by personal selections and activities and it is only by the process of existence that somebody realizes or defines himself. Whether a person will die or live due to their decisions should be secondary in their decision making and they should simply ask if their actions are wrong or right, or bad or good (Cooper 26).

Sartre said: “in any case, what is that by existentialism we mean a doctrine which makes human life possible and, in addition, declares that every truth and every action implies a human setting and a human subjectivity” (Sartre 10).

Normally, people put focus on the dark side of human life and rarely put the emphasis on the positive side and consider existentialism as anything unattractive. This is the reason people are considered naturalist.

The close relationship between freedom and responsibility informs us about the value of philosophical life. This is demonstrated when Sartre states that if there is no existence of God, at least another being exists in whom existence precedes essence and a human being that was present before may be identified through whichever concept, and this existing being is considered a man.

The meaning of the expression that existence precedes essence is that, to start with, there is existence of man, develops, emerges on the scene, and, just eventually, defines his identity. Just eventually, he will be something, a man himself will have created what he has defined himself to be and this shows that human nature does not exist since God does not exist to conceive it.

Through daily living, everybody is engaging endlessly in the process of forming themselves or one’s identity. With nonexistence of any previous moral principle to adhere to, man has the basic freedom to make their personal system of beliefs and this personal freedom of perception is accompanied with the load of responsibility for the selections and decisions somebody creates.

Every human being should be responsible for the choices they create and if somebody does not accept responsibility for the actions and choices he or she makes, one will be operating in bad faith, a kind of self-deception that results to sense of forlornness, anguish, despair, and anxiety.

The first clear value that Socrates declares concerning a society is justice and truth since he reveals this in the initial step of his defense, which shows these as essential values for him (Cooper 17).

He presented clearly that he does not undervalue justice and truth, and consider them as important elements of nationality and society.

Therefore, citizens might be believed to be ‘good’ in his perception if they adhere to the good value of justice and truth in their community, particularly as Socrates performs during the court proceeding. All through his life, Socrates administered that the unexamined life does not merit questioning whatever thing.

In conclusion, it can be established that freedom and responsibility go hand in hand and if a person makes a choice, he or she must assume the responsibilities that accompany the choices made.

Freedom is achieved if a person accepts the responsibility and it is considered that a man is responsible for all elements for themselves, which contain the ability to make choices and do anything. Through daily living, everybody is engaging endlessly in the process of forming themselves or one’s identity.

Nevertheless, even when operating in bad faith, one is creating the selection of shunning responsibility, and it demonstrates that everybody cannot shun choice that helps them recall the fact that the destiny of a man is within himself. Freedom is also a curse since the responsibility of structuring somebody’s life is accompanied with freedom to decide.

Cooper, John. Plato: The Trial and Death of Socrates. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2000. Print.

Descartes, René. Meditations on First Philosophy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.

Sartre, Jean-Paul. Existentialism and Human Emotions: Selections from Being and Nothingness. New York: Citadel, 1957. Print.

Thoreau, Henry. Walden; Or, Life in the Woods. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, 2009. Print.

• Rivalry and Central Planning by Don Lavoie: Study Analysis
• Freedom and the Role of Civilization
• Nietzsche’s and Sartre’s Views on Morality
• Philosophical movement
• Relationship Between Body and Consciousness by Jean-Paul Sartre
• Human Freedom as Contextual Deliberation
• Freedom and Determinism
• Susan Wolf’s Philosophy
• Rousseau and Kant on their respective accounts of freedom and right
• Inconsistency of the Compatibilist
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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My body, my choice, our future: thoughts and reflections on reproductive rights and climate justice

Everyone has the right to decide if, when, and how to have children. so yes, we support people’s decision to have children as well as people’s decision not to have children, and we work to make sure that people are able to make such decisions free from coercion and in an informed way..

It was around Christmas last year when some of my extended family got together that I was finally asked the question dreaded perhaps by a lot of childless women in their mid-twenties, “so when are you going to have a baby?”

To which I answered honestly, “I don’t think I want to”, and hoped it would be the end of that. Of course, it wasn’t.

Suddenly, everyone in the room was in on the conversation between me and my tita (aunt). I heard a couple of why’s, a sayang (what a pity), some glowing endorsements for having children, and an inquiry on my relationship status from a male cousin.

At that point, I could have said that we were talking about my life, my body, and therefore my choice, and none of their business. I would have been right. Perhaps it was filial piety. Perhaps it was the responsibility I felt as a women’s rights advocate that I could not just disengage. Surprisingly, however, when I put my advocate hat on, it was not the one I expected.

I remember saying something along the lines of—I don’t think I want to have a child with climate change happening. I am not even sure how kids will live through the next thirty or so years.

I used to look back at that reply with some regret, not because it was untrue because it wasn’t, but because it was incomplete. I had other concerns, too, like my financial situation and emotional readiness. As someone working in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), I also felt like I should have still asserted my bodily autonomy somehow. Instead, I felt like a half-baked climate advocate, worried that I might have also come off as an anti-natalist.

Often I feel like some people misunderstand reproductive rights advocates and, in particular, safe abortion rights activists. While those staunchly anti-abortion will happily paint us as anti-children and worse, I wonder if perhaps the average person could assume that our position was that women should not have children at all.

As I understand, the position of advocates like myself is that everyone has the right to decide if, when, and how to have children. So yes, we support people’s decision to have children as well as people’s decision not to have children, and we work to make sure that people can make such decisions free from coercion and in an informed way. Of course, there is more to the work than this .

Through my work, I have been learning more about the Reproductive Justice framework. Reproductive Justice was a term coined in 1994 by twelve Black women who, along with many other women of color, Indigenous women, and trans people , felt that reproductive rights conversation had been limited to choice without discussing access.

“Figure Nullipara”. Artwork by Denise Nicole Tolentino

The Reproductive Justice framework broadens the discussion by asking people to analyze reproductive issues using power systems and identify the various forms of oppression that result in some communities having less access to information and services and being more vulnerable to rights violations than others . The framework highlights the role of movements in demanding justice for these communities by holding governments and institutions accountable for gaps in access and care and the inability to fulfill human rights obligations.

For example, one of the things the framework emphasizes is not just the decision to have a child but the right and ability to raise children in a safe environment. An oft-cited example of a violation of this right is the situation of Black mothers who are made to fear police presence in their communities because of rampant police brutality against Black people. For many advocates and activists, this right also speaks to our climate situation.

The right to raise children in a safe environment means that people should be able to raise children without fear of the effects of an ongoing climate crisis, which disproportionately affects people of color in the United States, as was the experience during hurricanes Katrina and Maria and more recently during the Texas power outages, but also poor communities in the Global South, and, in particular, women who belong to these communities.

Applying a rights-based and justice framework to women’s experiences in the Global South has been extremely productive for me to understand our needs and challenges concerning sexual and reproductive health and the climate crisis. This is why, personally, I would also distance myself from anti-natalism despite not wanting children myself.

For many women in the Philippines, the decision to have children has already been made. It is made for them by the dearth of reproductive health information and options, from the non-implementation of comprehensive sexuality education to the uneven provision of reproductive health services and commodities to the criminalization of abortion. It is taken from them by men who rape or coerce them into having children.

The same women eventually shoulder the burden of care for their children, and in many cases, other relatives as well. Because of this, women are less mobile and more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. There are accounts of women losing their lives because they had stayed at home in the middle of a disaster. For women who are able to live through disasters, the burden of care can be heavier in the aftermath, and they are also at risk of sexual violence in evacuation centers and humanitarian setups.

Despite all these, many women perform leadership roles in their communities. They are organizers, crisis managers, and overseers of livelihood projects. For those belonging in communities whose livelihood and well-being are tied to their ecosystems, such as peasant, fisherfolk, and Indigenous peoples’ communities, many women have stood to be environmental defenders against land grabbers and extractive industries that come in to commodify their ecosystems and contribute to the worsening of the climate crisis.

In learning about these issues and participating in the movements that have taken them up, I recognize my privileged position as an advocate and activist. While I, as an activist, can proclaim to adhere to certain principles in relation to reproductive rights and climate justice and advocate these to try and effect change, some people and communities are continually under threat of direct violence even as they face institutional violence in the form of neglect by the state.

Clearly, capitalism and patriarchy work hand in hand to oppress women and women from poor communities the most. For these women, the intersectionality of reproductive and climate issues isn’t something to theorize and contemplate; it is their reality.

Of course, we should not only be looking to these women because of how they are marginalized and subjugated, but we should look to them because they can help us lead the way out of the climate crisis. Environmental defenders’ work to protect the environment is an example of building resilient communities from the impacts of climate change. Protected forests mean less destructive floods and landslides, and protected coastlines and marine ecosystems help abate storm surges.

As they resist the presence of extractive industries in their communities, we must not only support their actions but continue to call for divestment from these industries in our policies so communities do not continue to suffer these companies in the future.

I go back to that conversation with my tita now, and perhaps I would be less inclined to present such a bleak reality despite everything. Because while climate change is still a concern, our movements give me a reason to believe in the future.

They remind me that things are not just up to me. Above all, it is the role of governments and institutions to protect my right and everyone else’s to raise children in a safe environment. To make sure they do, I know our movements will continue to call for justice and accountability and to struggle for a future everyone, regardless of their age, gender, class, race, ethnicity, or reproductive choices, can look forward to.

Denise Nicole Tolentino is a freelance writer and illustrator. She uses her work to tell stories, inject humor, and push ideas that help make the world greener, safer, and fairer for everyone. She shares most of her works on instagram.com/drawnbydenise

Learn more about gender justice and feminist solutions at the upcoming Global Just Recovery Gathering on April 9-11, 2021. There are workshops that you can participate in and learn from amazing climate and social justice leaders from around the world. Public registration is now open.

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Read more stories from our volunteers and partners this Women’s Month:

Commuters, pedestrians, and cyclists; Leading the way to a better normal by Celine Tabinga of ICSC

Climate justice must include gender justice by Mitzi Jonelle Tan of YACAP

How My Battle With Weight Forced Me to Look Beyond the Scale

My weight has been a constant topic of conversation for as long as I can remember. One of the earliest memories I have of this realization was when I was around 8 or 9. I went to visit my great-aunts (a trio of unwed sisters bound together by their love of judging other people) who I hadn't seen in a few years.

"Oh bambina! What a beautiful face you have!" they gushed, tipping my chin upward to get a better look at me. "But, you better watch that weight! You're getting chubby like your father was." They nodded in agreement, ignoring the color rising to my fleshy cheeks. I was angry, humiliated, and disgusted with myself.

As I got older, I continued to be the target of unsolicited remarks in regard to my weight. While insults like "fatty" or "porky" stung, those surprisingly weren't the comments that left a mark. It was those subtle, backhanded compliments — the "warm fuzzies with the cold pricklies" as my mother would say — that really did permanent damage. What I believe were meant to be friendly observations such as "You have such a pretty face" or "You'd be perfect if you just lost like 20 pounds" made me feel completely inadequate. In my head, these words translated to me being almost good enough, almost worthy enough.

It was like the weight was an anchor hindering me from living the life I wanted. In high school, I began to measure my self-worth strictly in inches and pounds gained or lost. I meticulously watched every morsel that went into my mouth , became vigilant about exercising, and compulsively weighed myself. By the time I had reached my junior year, I had lost 40 pounds. I expected a total life transformation, including a giant surge of self-esteem. I waited for it to come, but it never did. Of course my clothes fit better and I felt a little more comfortable in my skin, but I still wasn't confident. I felt deflated. I had lost all of this weight, so why did I still feel insecure?

Throughout college and after I graduated, I had also been diagnosed with severe depression, and as a result, my weight fluctuated with my moods. All of the ups and downs made me feel like I was on a dizzying roller coaster with no end in sight. Finally, when I got engaged and started to plan my wedding, I began to focus on making healthy choices and felt a renewed sense of motivation. The weight came off and stayed off. Two years ago, I got married and I was at my lowest weight I had ever been. I was madly in love, was able to wear clothes I had never dreamed of wearing, and heard people refer to me as "tiny." Sounds like life was perfect, right? Wrong. Even though I knew I was thinner, I still didn't look in the mirror and see a person I was happy or even satisfied with. I saw the 8-year-old girl with the pretty face, who was almost but not quite good enough. My depression revealed itself once again, and slowly but surely the weight — and the guilt and shame associated with it — came right on back.

What makes you the kickass human being you are has nothing to do with what you look like on the outside.

Today, I am 30 pounds heavier than I was on my wedding day, but for the first time in my life, I am working on healing what is on the inside. In hindsight, I believe my biggest mistake was convincing myself a number on a scale or someone else's opinion of my body would repair the damage of years of self-deprecation. For me, losing weight wasn't a gift I was giving myself — it wasn't about getting fit or healthy — but instead it was a desperate search for internal and external approval. With the help of a therapist, I'm focusing on replacing negative self-talk and damaging thoughts with those of love and kindness. I am also focusing on eating not to reach a numeric goal on the scale but to make my body feel nourished, energetic, and whole. I try not to beat myself up for not torching calories at the gym but instead celebrate the fact I am moving a little more every day.

This journey to self-love is the hardest one I've been on, but I am hopeful the benefits will outweigh any of the struggles I am facing now. If there is any lesson to be learned from my story, it is this: who you are as a person, what makes you the wonderful, tough, kickass human being you are, has nothing to do with what you look like on the outside. If you love yourself on the inside, if you truly focus on sculpting a beautiful soul instead of the "perfect" body, then I believe you will be the person you have always wanted to be. Anything that follows after that is just a bonus.

• Weight Loss
• Personal Essay

A Historical Perspective on the Political Limits of “My Body, My Choice”

In the context of the U.S. Supreme Court repeal of Roe v. Wade, the struggle for access to abortion and reproductive freedom continues. In Germany, abortion remains a criminal act only granted under specific conditions and requirements. Apart from ethical and legal requirements, abortions are hardly mentioned in most medical curricula. There is a shortage of medical practices that perform abortions, especially in rural areas and if there is no “medical or criminological indication”, the procedure is not covered by health insurance, costing between €300 to €600. §218 of the criminal code that criminalises and regulates abortion is a remnant from the imperial penal code of 1871 (only the GDR legalised abortion in 1972).

Radical feminists in Germany were at the forefront of criticising levels of access to contraception and abortion around the turn of the 20 th century. Reproduction, population politics, and by extension, “women’s bodies”, became contentious public issues in Germany and beyond amongst falling birth rates and changing social structures due to industrialisation, colonisation, and wars.

The radical claims by feminists around the Bund für Mutterschutz und Sexualreform (League for the Protection of Mothers and Sexual Reform, BfM), occupied a unique space within the so-called first wave of feminism in Europe. They advocated far-reaching demands regarding women’s right to self-ownership over their bodies and sexuality. This included the abolition of §218. The “new ethics“ strived for a freer sexuality and the emancipation of (bourgeois) women in the face of social double standards and to the “upliftment of the race“ (Dietrich 2009, 12). They utilised arguments of individual control and ownership whilst stressing women’s responsibility to the nation, the “quality of the population” and the “new generation”. Uncompromisingly, at the center of the work of the BfM was the “right to motherhood” and “right and duty to reject motherhood under unfavourable circumstances” (Stöcker 1910, 415). However, “duty” does some weighty and far-reaching work for them.

Arguments for a woman’s right to her own body developed in the context of a rising eugenic discourse. In fact, the BfM were notorious for a specific kind of “synthesis of eugenics and sexual radicalism” (Allen 1985, 480). Stressing maternal responsibility for the race lent more collective weight to individual claims of rights or ownership. They argued that only through sexual freedom, economic self-sufficiency and bodily autonomy could maternal responsibility foster and provide quality of offspring for the future of the race (Stöcker 1981, 150). Whilst other contentious areas, such as education, suffrage or property ownership were argued for as formal equality with men, the same thing was not possible for issues of reproduction and sexuality. Tactically, eugenics supported political demands by lending them supposed scientific legitimacy, but it wasn’t long before strategy became ideology.

Radical feminist and sex reformers developed their own eugenic thoughts. It became “a new basis for a challenge to male authority within marriage”, for new concepts of motherhood and a reform of the family (Allen 1985, 484). Suddenly, the right to motherhood was conditional rather than absolute. The “duty”, not just right, to reject motherhood on the grounds of improving the population (and with it, the German race), led to arguments suggesting that children of “parents afflicted by contagious diseases, heart disease, or insanity should not be born.”(Frederiksen 1981, 22). Through this lens, your body “belonged to you” depending on who “you” were.

Whilst this form of “social hygiene” did not make explicit claims about the right properties of a white race, the implicit assumptions were clear. Consider the BfM’s involvement in the interracial marriage debates surrounding German settlements in colonial properties such as German Southwest Africa (today Namibia). “Racial mixing” and its threat to white settler and colonial state interests was a contentious issue not just in the colonies. The BfM criticised the mainstream debate’s focus on marriage regulation. But far from criticising the foundation of the debate as such, they only took issue with the ineffectiveness (“wrong tool”) of legal prohibitions of marriage (Iros 1912, 317). Accepting “racial mixing” as a problem, they saw the solution in a fundamental change in sexual morals, which would create a sense of generative responsibility among white men in both the German Reich and the colonies. The BfM posited the emancipation of the white (bourgeois) woman as the best bulwark against the threat of “racial mixing”, as bettering the social position of white women would heighten and tighten racial pride (Canning 2002, 211). Furthermore, they argued for the proliferation of contraception to uphold racial purity in the face of “continuous sexual contact”. Once more, arguments pertaining to sexual emancipation and reproductive control were entangled with racialised, and racist, notions of the proper composition of a people.

I would argue with this historical perspective in mind, individual claims to rights and ownership remain fragile without some form of stabilising material and political-ethical order of how property and propriety are organised. The specific historical view of the fight for abortion challenges the dominance of the liberal rights doctrine for feminist struggle: reproductive choice based on healthy and responsible bodily ownership became an exclusive individual privilege, one that only “healthy”, “responsible”, and “proper” women could access. To be granted ownership and reproductive rights, your subjecthood had to adhere to specific notions of health and responsibility. Self-ownership for some; implied dispossession for others.

Black and Indigenous feminists have oriented their organising and thinking around this problem, arguing that the rhetoric of choice is necessary but not sufficient and constructing a framework of reproductive justice (e.g. see the SisterSong collective; Ross, 2006). By drawing on the work of grassroots organisations working in marginalised and racialised communities, we bear witness to the crucial rhetorical and organisational shift from choice and ownership, from slogans such as “safe, legal and rare”, to a healthcare framing of abortion as “safe, free and on demand”(Lewis, 2022).

The slogans “My Body My Choice”, or “My Body Belongs to Me”, are no longer reserved for feminist movements for reproductive justice, bodily self-determination, and abortion rights. In 2021, we witnessed anti-mask and anti-vax protestors appropriate the slogan to refuse protective covid-measures and abdicate collective responsibility vis-a-vis the broader community. At the same time, bodies originally centred by this political assertion are under attack in a roll-back of already precarious rights for gestators, mothers as well as queer and trans people.

Today, amidst discussions around falling birth rates and white fascist panics around the purported “great replacement” of innocent (white) children, it is as important as ever to scrutinise how to work towards reproductive freedom for all. Even without this historical excursion, the description of the current situation in Germany alone would warrant a rejection of a singular focus on choice or ownership. The right to choose remains insufficient at best if it is unaffordable and unavailable, especially if it isn’t accompanied by further reproductive care.

Bibliography:

Allen, Ann Taylor. 1985. “Mothers of the New Generation: Adele Schreiber, Helene Stöcker, and the Evolution of a German Idea of Motherhood, 1900-1914.” Signs 10(3): 418–38.

Canning, Kathleen. 2002. Languages of Labor and Gender: Female Factory Work in Germany, 1850-1914 . original edition 1996 Cornell University. Michigan: University of Michigan Press.

Dietrich, Anette. 2009. “Sittlichkeit Zwischen Weiblicher Emanzipation Und ‘Hebung Der Rasse.’” Ariadne : Forum für Frauen- und Geschlechtergeschichte 55: 12–17.

Frederiksen, Elke. 1981. “Einleitung: Zum Problem Der Frauenfrage Um Die Jahrhundertwende.” In Die Frauenfrage in Deutschland 1865-1915: Texte Und Dokumente , Stuttgart: Reclam, 5–43.

Iros. 1912. “Koloniale Sexualpolitik.” Neue Generation 8(6).

Lewis, Sophie. 2022. “Free Anthrogenesis: Antiwork Abortion.” Salvage . https://salvage.zone/free-anthrogenesis-antiwork-abortion/ (June 21, 2022).

Ross, Loretta. “Understanding Reproductive Justice: Transforming the Pro-Choice Movement.” Off Our Backs , vol. 36, no. 4, 2006, pp. 14–19.

Stöcker, Helene. 1910. “Der Internationale Neumalthusianer-Kongress in Haag.” Die Neue Generation : 415.

———. 1981. “Ehe Und Sexualreform.” In Die Frauenfrage in Deutschland 1865-1915: Texte Und Dokumente , ed. Elke Frederiksen. Stuttgart: Reclam, 148–68.

The Italian elections and the threat to European integration

“laters, baby”: how the british prime ministers’ discourse of delay turned indyref2 into a peripheral issue.

Hannah Voegele (University of Brighton)

Hannah Voegele is a Postgraduate Researcher at the Center for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics at the University of Brighton and an alumni of the DPIR. Hannah’s current research focuses on modern relations of property and propriety, (Germany’s) colonial continuities, and feminism's ambiguous histories.

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The Nature of Responsibility

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Works Cited:

• Bartholomew, R. E. (2018). Understanding conversion disorder: A guide for the medical profession. ABC-CLIO.
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• Hansen, C. B. (2017). Witches, Magic, and Transgression in the European Middle Ages. Oxford University Press.
• Kirsch, G. E. (2019). The Salem witch trials: A reference guide. ABC-CLIO.
• Norton, M. B. (2016). In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692. Vintage.
• Rosenthal, B. (2013). Salem story: reading the witch trials of 1692. Cambridge University Press.
• Starkey, M. (2015). The Devil in Massachusetts: A Modern Enquiry into the Salem Witch Trials. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
• Wright, L. (2017). Salem witch trials. Routledge.
• Woolf, A. (2019). The Salem Witch Trials. Pearson Education Limited.

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My Body My Rights

IN THIS DAY AND AGE, SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL DEPRIVED OF THE FREEDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THEIR BODIES AND LIVES.

Through the My Body My Rights Campaign, Amnesty International will work together with young people to make sure that they are able to decide on their own bodies, their lives, and their own sexual reproductive health.

All over the world, people are coerced, criminalized and discriminated against, simply for making choices about their bodies and their lives. We all have the right to make decisions about our own health, body, sexuality and reproductive life, without fear, coercion, violence or discrimination. But everywhere, people’s freedom to make these decisions is controlled by the state, medical professionals, even their own families. Criminal law and punitive sanctions are frequently used to control such choices. In the end, many people are prevented from making any choice at all.

In the Philippines, Karapatana takes flight for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. You, too, can become your own super hero, ask your government to deliver their promise of full protection and promotion for the rights of women, girls and young people everywhere.

 WHO IS KARAPATANA?

She is a super heroine who has dedicated her life in defending human rights. Her power emanates from the aspirations set forth by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She draws her strength and inspiration from upholding the rights of other people. She gives voice to the voiceless and stands with those without power.

Follow her adventures here.

Download the Karapatana Infographics on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights .

My Body My Rights is Amnesty International’s global campaign to stop the control and criminalization of sexuality and reproduction by governments and others by working on tangible change in people’s lives and challenging stigma and breaking the silence that can surround these issues. This campaign will also remind world leaders of their obligations to respect, protect and fulfill sexual and reproductive rights in global negotiations to promote human rights, peace and security, and development beyond 2015.