Bodily Autonomy in Politics and Laws of the United States of America

Abstract

Background: In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the United States and most of the world to go into a shutdown. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus disease and is highly contagious because it spreads mainly by respiratory droplets created when an infected person either coughs, sneezes, or talks. In the United States, a mask mandate was a decision to be made by each State. New York was one of the first states to go into an emergency shutdown and have a mask mandate. This mandate brought up a lot of conflict regarding bodily autonomy. The side that opposed masks can be referred to as "anti-maskers." The phrase "my body, my choice" became popular among anti-maskers.

Objective: This study aims to identify if the movement of anti-maskers and the history of bodily autonomy in United States law and politics have any correlation.

Design and Method: My research method was qualitative and entirely based on peer-viewed scholarly literature on bodily autonomy in politics and law from 2011 to 2020. The design of my research is the following: the role of autonomy when considering gender (male and female) in politics and law, reproductive rights in politics, the interpretation of bodily autonomy in politics, and bodily autonomy in the movement of anti-maskers.

Results: The movement of anti-maskers and its interaction with the history of bodily autonomy must deal with identity and individual importance.

Conclusion: There needs to be more research and studies done regarding male autonomy and how it is interpreted in law and politics. This concept will also help in the debate on abortion since male autonomy cannot produce life, only contribute, which will shift focus from the value of human life to the value of a contributing individual in society. Additionally, it will guide the way legislators decide on the value of the anti-masker movement and if they are contributing or going against society.

Keywords: Anti-maskers, COVID-19, bodily autonomy, United States, politics, law, individualism, democracy, society, reproductive rights