6. Body Control & Unsafe Reproductive practices

Bodily autonomy is the right to make decisions about your own body without pressure, control, or manipulation from others. It is a cornerstone of personal freedom and respect. However, it is important to recognize that sometimes control over your body is disguised as care or love. This subtle form of manipulation can make it difficult to see when boundaries are being crossed. While care and love should empower you to make decisions freely, control undermines this autonomy and can lead to lasting emotional and physical harm.

Bodily Autonomy/ Reproductive Coercion

Terminate Pregnancy

• “I was forced to terminate my pregnancy because my partner is not ready for responsibility. He said, ‘You’re getting rid of it, or I’m leaving you.’ I felt like I didn’t have a choice." (Pressure to Abort a Pregnancy)

Forced to Carry Pregnancy

• "I am forced to carry a pregnancy to full term despite me"

being raped;

• "After the assault, I wanted to terminate the pregnancy, but they said, 'You have to carry it; it's your responsibility.' I feel trapped." (Forced Continuation of Pregnancy)

• "They said, 'If you get rid of it, you’ll regret it forever. It’s your responsibility to take care of what happened.' But I didn’t ask for this, and I feel so helpless." (Manipulating Guilt to Force Compliance)

• "They said, 'It's a sin to interfere with what happens after. Just leave it to God.' But I didn’t choose this, and I don’t understand why I have to suffer more." (Using Religious Beliefs to Justify Denial of Healthcare)

• "After the assault, I went to the clinic, but they told me, 'We don’t provide emergency contraception here—it's against our policy.' I felt abandoned and powerless." (Systemic Denial of Reproductive Healthcare - Emergency contraception is often incorrectly equated with abortion)

• "I wanted to ask for emergency contraception, but I was scared people would blame me or think it was my fault. I felt like I couldn’t seek help." (Fear of Victim-Blaming and Social Stigma)

• "When I asked for help, the doctor said, 'You’re too late—there’s nothing we can do now.' I felt like no one cared about what I’d already been through." (Medical Neglect in Responding to Survivors)

being pregnant due to incest;

• "They told me, 'It's a gift from God, and you have to keep it,' even though I feel ashamed and traumatized knowing it’s from someone in my family who hurt me. I feel like my feelings don’t matter." (Coercion by Using Religious or Cultural Beliefs)

• "I told them I didn't want to continue the pregnancy, but they said, 'You’re not allowed to make that decision. You'll bring shame to our family.' I feel trapped and silenced." (Exploitation of Family Honor and Control)

• "When I expressed my fears, they said, 'If you tell anyone or try to terminate the pregnancy, we'll make sure you’re punished.' I feel like I have no choice but to keep quiet and carry it." (Using Fear to Maintain Control)

disapproving (Denial of Reproductive Autonomy);

• "I told him I wasn't ready to have a baby, but he said, 'You don't get to decide that—it's my baby too.' I feel like my voice doesn't matter." (Partner Control Over Reproductive Choices)

• "My parents said, 'You will keep this pregnancy. We don't believe in abortion, and you have no right to go against our wishes.' I feel like I'm losing control over my own life." (Family Imposing Beliefs and Denying Autonomy)

• "I heard that seeking an abortion could land me in jail. Even though I don’t want to continue this pregnancy, I’m too scared to find help because of what might happen to me." (Fear of Legal Consequences and Criminalization)

• I am not allowed to eat as a punishment for using contraceptives.

having health condition;

• "My family said, ‘You have to keep this baby, no matter what,’ even though my doctor warned that continuing the pregnancy could endanger my life. I feel like my health doesn’t matter to them." (Family Prioritizing Pregnancy Over the Individual’s Health)

• "My partner said, ‘You’re strong—you can handle it. I want this baby.’ But I’m scared because my health condition could make this pregnancy life-threatening." (Denial of Medical Risks by Partner)

• "When I asked about terminating the pregnancy due to my health, the doctor said, ‘That’s not an option here. You just need to take care of yourself and hope for the best.’ I feel like no one is listening to me." (Systemic Denial of Safe Reproductive Healthcare)

as a tool for control me;

• "He told me, ‘You can’t get rid of the baby—it’s proof of our love and commitment.’ But I feel like he’s only saying that to stop me from leaving him." (Manipulation Using Emotional Guilt)

• "He said, ‘If you try to end this pregnancy, I’ll make sure everyone knows what you did. No one will ever want you.’ I feel like I’m stuck and can’t make my own decisions." (Threats and Fear of Social Stigma)

• "He keeps saying, ‘Everything will get better if you just keep the baby,’ but I know he’s only trying to make sure I can’t leave him." (Deceptive Assurance to Manipulate Choices)

• “I was not permitted/I was discouraged from undergoing reproductive surgeries/treatments that will lower my fertility because I might change my mind/might find a suitable opposite-sex partner/need to reproduce first.”

Body Control

Control Over Appearance

• "He said, ‘You can’t wear that dress—it’s too revealing. What will people think?’ But I wanted to wear it because it made me feel confident." (Restricting Personal Style and Expression)

• "She insists I wear makeup every day, saying, ‘You look too plain without it.’ I feel like I can’t be myself around her." (Imposing Beauty Standards)

• “I am urged to undergo cosmetic surgeries/body-enhancing surgeries because I am told that no one will want me unless I am pretty.”

• “My partner controls the way I dress because I have to be aesthetically pleasing to them.”

Body Shaming and Diet Restrictions

• "He said, ‘You need to lose weight or no one will ever find you attractive.’ I started skipping meals just to stop the comments, but I feel terrible about myself." (Shaming Based on Weight or Appearance)

• "They control what I eat, saying, ‘You should only eat healthy food if you want to look good for me.’ I feel like I’m being monitored all the time." (Food Restriction to Enforce Control)

• "He kept saying, ‘You’d look so much better with lighter skin,’ and pushed me to buy whitening products. I felt like who I was wasn’t enough." (Coercion to Undergo Physical Changes)

• "I wanted to cut my hair short because it felt more like me, but he said, ‘I forbid you to do that—I like your hair long.’ It felt like my choices didn’t matter." (Denying Personal Autonomy)

• “My partner does not allow me to wear makeup because my bare face is enough despite me wanting to wear some/My partner forces me to wear makeup despite me not wanting to.”

• “I am starved to fit the societal standards of beauty.”

Discrimination of Single Women in terms of reproductive health and autonomy

• “Because I am single, I am not given contraceptives.”

• “I am treated with contempt whenever I ask for contraceptive pills and condoms from our barangay.”

• “There is a lack of access to sanitary pads and contraceptive pills during disasters in our place.”