Your body, my choice
Why naturists have a responsibility to reject this dangerous sentiment
In the aftermath of the recent political circus, a chilling slogan has started flooding social media feeds: “your body, my choice.” Spawned by white nationalist Nick Fuentes, this meme has become a wildly popular rallying cry among the far-right groyper movement, and is now being embraced by emboldened Gen Z boys commenting on grown women’s TikToks, and everywhere else.
Like most dog whistles, the meme—a dark play on the popular phrase commonly associated with the pro-choice movement—is often presented as crass sarcasm, giving it a thin veneer of plausible deniability. But make no mistake, the statement—and the sentiment behind it—is unsurprisingly devoid of any actual irony. It’s a completely earnest message intended to normalize a simple and disturbing sentiment: body autonomy is conditional, and the conditions are dictated by someone else; specifically, men.
As naturists, we must not ignore this hateful slogan. It’s tempting to dismiss it as a joke or as something too absurd to touch our world, but we don’t live in a bubble, and our values mean little if they’re only practiced in isolation. “Your body, my choice” is a full-throated challenge to everything we advocate—each person’s right to control their own body, without conditions or exceptions. This meme outright rejects, and flies in the face of everything naturism stands for: respect and freedom without compromise.
To be perfectly clear, this meme is not a joke or an edgy take. It’s a direct statement of power, particularly over women, and it’s spreading. Social media has been flooded with this slogan, aimed to taunt and demean. Shirts and hats (red, like you might expect) are now being sold with the slogan. It’s a direct challenge to the naturist philosophy, and a specific threat to any way of life that values autonomy, respect, and personal freedom.
Thankfully, the internet has responded in kind, with many sharing glorious counter-memes that mock and reject this slogan. I’ll share a few of my favorites below.
In a political climate where certain voices are pushing for increased control over individual choices, this slogan signals an attempt to dismantle the very concept of self-ownership. If we believe in autonomy, we should be the first to recognize this threat and respond with a commitment to defending the principles we hold dear.
Naturism has always championed the universal right to body freedom, a principle that faces real threats in today’s political climate. To be clear, this is not unique to a Trump presidency; it has been under threat for years now. But with recent shifts in power, we may see more emboldened policies emerge that infringe on personal autonomy. We can’t wait for these slogans to target naturists specifically in order to resist and fight back. The popularity of “your body, my choice” signals a broader cultural trend toward controlling others’ choices—a direct challenge to our values. Now, more than ever, naturists must remain vigilant, engage in advocacy, and foster inclusive communities that champion autonomy. Our organizations must aim for visibility and stand up for body autonomy, and to not throw our women and LGBTQ+ members under the bus. By standing firm, we can protect the freedoms we believe in and ensure that respect for each person’s body remains a core part of our culture. 🪐