The vagina and autonomy

I'll start by bringing up one of the concepts of autonomy. One of the definitions found is that autonomy is the ability of a rational individual to make a decision, not forced, based on the available information.

And what does this have to do with the vagina? In my opinion, everything!

In the history of the development of human sexuality, we can see how the relations between men and women have undergone great transformations; fruit of the woman's physical and mental subjection and the sexual division of labor.

These transformations reduced the importance and autonomy of women within social relationships, empowering entities, such as the church, and men, to have control over the female body.

Like a war tactic, subduing and controlling the body was, and still is, an efficient way to undermine a woman's self-confidence. Weakened bodies and minds are easy to master. For a woman who is vulnerable, tired and fragile, overcoming the adversities of life is a much more difficult task, especially without a support base.

But going back to the vagina, let's think about how many women we know, or stories we hear, that show how deep the damage caused by physical or emotional abuse can be.

There are women who reject the body, women who do not allow themselves to have sexual pleasure, some who repeat self-destructive patterns, difficulty in relating, difficulty in obtaining financial independence, introspection, somatization in the form of physical illnesses and so many other complications.

Yes, we must speak of the vagina. Talk about the relationship that exists between the genital and the woman's conscience.

When a woman connects with her personal power, she takes responsibility for her life. This allows her to make her own decisions and live according to her wishes. It does not mean being free from the pressure and oppression imposed by patriarchy. On the contrary, the more awareness we acquire, the more the challenges that come.

Today being a woman who accepts the body, who knows her genital and orgasmic potential can be considered an act of rebellion. And I say this without exaggeration!

All the time we are bombarded with information, news and images where the subtitles are changed, but in the end we continue to receive the old messages. Only knowledge provides the critical sense, which allows us to filter information.

The maxim is valid: “pray and watch”.

And for those who are afraid of feminism and female autonomy (I now speak for the women themselves who are against the movements), don't worry. Being an autonomous woman does not mean abandoning the feminine characteristics, but it means perceiving and bringing out all the facets of your cyclicality.

Promoting positive dialogue about our bodies and facilitating access to the necessary information is to illuminate a dark path. Repeating the initial words of the text: “autonomy is the ability of a rational individual to make a decision, not forced, based on the information available.”