The importance of personal autonomy and self-governance in decision-making cannot be overstated. Autonomy is the power to decide. It is a significant concept in philosophy, law, and culture. But it starts with your inner self, your spirituality. Let’s find out where you are on the continuum of freedom.
To explore your spirituality, you need the freedom to think and choose. Freedom is also dependent upon your access to resources, which determines the options from which to choose. The greater the bandwidth of autonomy and resources, the healthier your decision-making. The healthier your decisions, the better for everyone in your circle of influence. Culture reflects the views of those in power and with influence.
As you read the article, ask yourself some questions. Does your culture support self-governance in decision-making, or are there boundaries? Is individual freedom in society increasing or decreasing? In what ways have you observed changes in individual freedoms within your community? We’ll add a few more questions to this list once we identify the influencers of these freedoms.
Join me as we delve into the ten basic human rights that form the backbone of our society. Then, we’ll look at the factors that influence them. We’ll look at some examples to see how these influences play out. Last, we’ll give you some action steps to deal with freedom violations.
The Ten Basic Human Rights
These rights are the fundamental freedoms that ensure a healthy culture. They provide dignity, equality, and security for all individuals. [1] They are a reflection of the level of self-governance responsibilities in society. Here they are, with short explanations for each:
- Everyone has the right to freedom and equality, regardless of their background.
- Everyone should be able to participate in fair, democratic elections.
- Freedom of personal autonomy and self-governance, or bodily autonomy. The right to decide about your body and maintain privacy. [2]
- To be governed by fair laws. Everyone deserves to live with laws that are applied equally.
- The right to meet basic survival needs covers access to essential resources. These include food, water, shelter, and medical care.
- Freedom of thought and the ability to decide whether or not to follow a religion.
- Live free of servitude, torture, or disparate treatment.
- Equal, fair access to education and the opportunity to education without discrimination.
- Freedom of expression as long as it does not harm others.
- To live free, protected from unjust persecution by individuals or authorities.
These rights are the foundation of a healthy society. The degree to which they are present tells us if we are living in a democracy or not. Factors affecting personal autonomy and self-governance vary by community. If we can spot the factors affecting them, we can address any deficiencies. Let’s look at these major influencers. See if you spot these in your community.
Determining Individual Freedom in Society
You can look at several things to determine how much freedom people have in a society. [3] First, consider the laws and rights. It’s essential to check if people can freely speak, gather, and practice their religion. You also want to see if laws protect everyone’s fundamental rights.
Next, think about politics. Look at how fair and open the voting process is. Find out if there are ways to hold leaders accountable for their actions. The economy is another key area. See how easy it is to start a business, own property, and check if everyone can get food, water, and healthcare.
Social indicators are also important. Look at how accessible and equal education is for everyone. Check the quality and availability of medical services. Media and information play a significant role, too. See if the media can report news without control. Find out if people use the internet to share information.
Privacy protections are central to freedom. The ability to control your own body highlights the importance of personal autonomy. Finally, consider social and cultural norms. See if different cultures and lifestyles are welcome. Also, check how people can join community activities and share their thoughts.
Example of Identifying Individual Freedom in Society
An effective way to determine the priorities of a culture is to ask questions. If you get a chance to talk with a local elected official, ask, “Are you aware of the ten basic human rights? Do you back laws that support them?”
We’ve done this, and the results have been disappointing. Many conservative leaders don’t understand what the question means. So, be ready to provide a simple definition. Basic human rights are protections that support dignity, equality, and safety for everyone.
With the definition fresh in their minds, most can only give one or two examples. The most frequent correct answer given is freedom of speech. The most common wrong answer is the right to bear arms. It shows what shapes their thoughts, and is a good segue to discuss the factors affecting human rights.
Influencers of Personal Autonomy and Self-Governance
The influencers of individual freedom in society can be ranked by their impact. However, individual rankings can differ. Individual self-governance responsibilities in society are based on ethical standards and civic duties. A society thrives when it respects the importance of personal autonomy. A society that does not respect autonomy becomes a dictatorship.
- Culture: Establishes and reinforces accepted values, beliefs, and behaviors.
- Religion: Provides moral guidelines and influences ethical behavior.
- Education: Raises awareness and fosters understanding of social responsibility.
- Laws: Enforce standards and regulations that promote social responsibility.
- Government Policies: Implement and support social responsibility initiatives.
- Media: Influences public perception and awareness through information dissemination.
- Corporate Practices: Set standards of acceptable behavior.
- Environmental Awareness: Drives actions towards sustainability and conservation.
- Economic Factors: Enable investment in socially responsible initiatives.
- Community Engagement: Encourages active participation and responsibility.
- Personal Values: Individual beliefs and ethics drive personal actions.
- Philosophy: Provides frameworks for understanding and practicing social responsibility.
- Peer Influence: Social norms and peer behavior encourage responsible actions.
- Rational Thinking: Promotes logical and ethical decision-making.
- Technological Advancements: Provide tools and platforms for social responsibility.
Ranking is based on the overall impact these sources have on shaping social responsibility.
Culture plays a key role in determining individual freedom in society. It reinforces the dominant religious and social values, beliefs, and behaviors. Religion is the second highest influencer on the values related to social responsibility. It uses continuous indoctrination, influencing thinking, beliefs, and values.
Education helps people understand social responsibility. Laws set rules that govern behavior. The government provides a platform to deliver services. Media shapes public perception and awareness by sharing information.
Corporate practices often limit behavior to protect return on investment (ROI). At the same time, growing environmental awareness pushes for sustainability and conservation. Economic factors drive investment in socially responsible efforts. Also, community engagement fosters active participation and responsibility.
Personal values come from our beliefs and ethics. They guide our actions. Philosophy gives us ways to understand and practice social responsibility. Peer influence guides us toward responsible actions. Rational thinking helps us make logical and ethical choices. Technology is a tool for all avenues that can be used positively or negatively.
Expanding Individual Self-Governance Responsibilities in Society
Society creates rules, laws, and customs to help people live together in peace and safety. These rules guide how we drive, treat others, and take care of shared spaces. But even with all these rules, it is still up to each person to choose what to do. This is called self-governance.
Self-governance in decision-making means thinking for yourself. It’s about making good choices, even when no one is watching. People choose which rules to follow based on several factors. First, it depends on their sense of right and wrong. It is a complex decision. Their socioeconomic situation, family teachings, and cultural or religious beliefs shape it. Sometimes, laws and rules may seem unfair or confusing. So people must think carefully before they act.
In the end, a society can only work well when individuals take responsibility for their actions. Following rules is not just about avoiding trouble; it’s about doing what is best for others and the community. Individual self-governance responsibilities in society make a culture safe and inviting.
The Importance of Personal Autonomy as a Human Right
Rights come from the ability to act freely. However, this freedom should not harm others or the planet. Acting freely summarizes the ten basic human rights. [4] It implies that individuals who have autonomy and informed consent make better decisions.
Autonomy means having the freedom to make practical, ethical, and moral choices. It requires access to unbiased information and the ability to think and express oneself peacefully.
Personal autonomy as a human right means you can make decisions that affect your life. However, autonomy can be fragile. Being in a lower socioeconomic class can restrict your choices. It happens because you have less access to resources. Laws and cultural practices can limit bodily autonomy and personal choices. And, this is especially true for women and other groups. Such restrictions go against the idea of autonomy as a human right.
Justice involves fairness, equality, and equity, while liberty depends on the freedom a culture allows. Social liberty can be reduced if you are born into a culture that favors one gender, race, or ethnic group. Individual freedom in society depends on everyone having equal rights and opportunities.
The Continuum of Self-Governance in Decision-Making
Freedom exists on a continuum. On one side of the continuum are those with a high level of autonomy. Those with the most resources have unrestricted independence. They have more freedom to make decisions about their lives without interference.
As we move along the continuum, we encounter liberty. It involves broader societal freedoms shaped by laws, cultural norms, and government policies. Liberty enables people to make choices and have the resources to act on them.
Autonomy, liberty, and independence form a spectrum reflecting the varying degrees of freedom. The more a society supports these freedoms, the closer it moves toward an ideal where everyone lives freely and equitably.
People at the low end of autonomy have little freedom and control over their lives. External influences, such as social pressures and strict laws, regulate their behavior. They may lack access to essential resources like education and healthcare. Socioeconomic status and cultural norms restrict their ability to make personal decisions. It leads to a sense of powerlessness and dependency. When people can’t exercise their rights and freedoms, it leads to tension and conflict. People are forced to violate laws and standards in order to survive.
The Ten Basic Human Rights on the Freedom Continuum
The ten basic human rights are measurement points on this continuum. The more these rights exist, the more autonomy, liberty, and independence individuals have in society. The more autonomy and independence you have, the more options you have to decide about your life. In a utopian society, everyone has high levels of freedom, and laws ensure no inequities. Although this ideal society doesn’t exist, it provides a noble goal.
When the bandwidth of these ten basic human rights shrinks, it affects everyone. Losing rights for one person impacts everyone’s ability to pursue happiness and live freely. Unfortunately, most developing countries do not distribute these rights equally. [5]
A fair government supports equality. It creates a space where people have more freedom. It removes disparities and moves toward the utopian ideal. A corrupt government does the opposite, promoting preferential treatment and inequity. Autonomy and self-governance become overshadowed by conformity driven by fear.
What do you see happening in your society? Are you or someone you know affected by adverse beliefs, rules, or laws? Think about it. You likely know someone who has been or is being affected. It might be you. Let’s look at some other examples to clarify further how harmful influences can have a detrimental effect on society.
Autonomy and Self-Governance in the U.S.A.
The US Constitution gives everyone the right to life, liberty, and personal security. The right to life means the government can’t arrest you without a reason. It also can’t kill you without a trial. Liberty is defined as freedom from arbitrary and unreasonable restraint. Personal security refers to the right to make decisions that support one’s interests.
Sorry, but you can forget what the Constitution says. Instead, look at how the culture actually works. All these rights are interpreted differently by the courts and society in general.
Does the Constitution guarantee freedom, liberty, and justice for all people or just a select few? How do special interest groups take control of the highest positions in government and use this power to undermine this basic idea? It should be impossible. But the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade shows what happens when religious bias and prejudice infest the government.
The Beginning of All Freedoms
Autonomy and self-governance require individual independence. Bodily autonomy is the beginning of all freedoms. All personal freedoms begin with the unconditional liberty to decide what you can do with your body. No other liberties can survive without this freedom of choice. If you are not free to do what you want with your body, then you are a prisoner, an enslaved person, or both.
How does a culture decide it is time to infringe upon this most fundamental of all personal rights? It does this when religion takes control. Religion has always been concerned with controlling procreation. It does so precisely because it undermines individual freedom in society. When any of the ten basic human rights can be taken away from one person, it can be done to others.
Governments learned this kind of control from religion. Religions have dictated the boundaries of relationships. They call this the institution of marriage. It is the law of the land. In the past, religions used this to boost their membership by encouraging large families. At the same time, they made laws against other relationships that did not follow their pattern.
Autonomy and Informed Consent
The term informed consent comes from the medical community. Before a medical procedure, the physician tells the patient about potential outcomes. In this way, the patient decides after being fully informed. Written permission gives the physician permission to perform the procedure. It also absolves them from any legal action because of adverse outcomes.
This concept relates directly to the ten basic human rights. Everyone should have this level of self-governance in decision-making, regardless of gender. Why is the decision about parenthood any different?
Let’s examine how autonomy and informed consent shape individual self-governance and independence.
Decisions about Parenthood
If you want to adopt a child in the United States, you must show your ability to care for the child. That makes sense. Most states require you to be at least twenty-five years old. The assumption is that this is the minimum age at which someone is mature enough to care for a child. You must also demonstrate that you have the financial resources and a home for the child to live in. Again, this makes sense.
Adoption?
To adopt a child, you must also show that you have sufficient resources to care for the child. Usually, this means you have a stable career and earn at least $60,000 per year, but some states require more.
Some states give preference to those who are married. A single person can adopt a child, but must have ample resources. These standards seem to make common sense.
Parental Decision?
Now, let’s say you are a thirteen-year-old girl. Would you be able to adopt a child? The answer is no. What if you were 19 and rich? The answer is still no.
If the same thirteen-year-old girl gets pregnant, many states deny her and her family the right to decide what to do about the pregnancy. They may not have the ability to abort the pregnancy. It does not matter that she is not mature enough to handle raising a child, nor does it matter that she lacks the resources to raise a child. No option to abort the pregnancy even if she was raped. Why? Because those in control have their reasons for forcing birth.
Some claim the rights of the unborn supersede those of the mother. But the right to life ends at birth. Right-to-life advocates stop at birth. From then on, they don’t care about the mother’s or child’s health care. They don’t care if the mother is mature enough or has the resources. In this case, personal autonomy and individual self-governance responsibilities are taken away by the laws of the land.
The states with the highest rates of child adoption are where the adoption industry has its corporate offices.
Autonomy and Independence Increase with Wealth
If you want to adopt a healthy white male baby, get in line. But you can skip to the head of the line if you can pay for it. If you can afford the 100K+ adoption process, you can adopt. See, that’s easy. The adoption industry is the power behind the movement to undermine bodily autonomy.
The adoption industry favors people with higher incomes. Those at the lower end of the income spectrum are used as breeding stock, just like in The Handmaiden’s Tale. Fiction has become a cruel reality. Has democracy become a pipe dream?
Action Steps to Support Individual Freedom in Society
When you see basic human rights eroding, even small actions matter. They can spark critical changes. Here are some simple, practical steps you can take:
1. Educate Yourself and Others
Learn about the specific human rights issue — the context, the people affected, and the laws or systems involved. Share reliable information on social media or in conversations to raise awareness. Challenge misinformation respectfully when you see it.
2. Speak Up
Use your voice: Write blog posts, create videos, or even post on social media. Report violations to trusted partners. Local authorities may not be safe. Instead, use international watchdogs, or groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Call out injustice when you see it in your community — silence often enables abuse.
3. Support Victims and Activists
Donate to organizations defending human rights. Attend protests, vigils, or awareness events. If victims are in your area, offer practical help (e.g., translation, housing, food).
4. Engage Politically
Vote for candidates and policies that uphold human rights. Contact your representatives to express your concerns and push for action. Sign petitions or start one if none exist.
5. Document and Record
Take photos or videos if it is safe and legal to do so, especially during protests or arrests. Write down details of the incident (who, what, when, where) to report accurately later.
6. Practice Allyship
Listen to marginalized voices rather than speaking over them. Amplify their messages, campaigns, and experiences. Check your own biases and privileges, and work to be a better ally.
In Conclusion
The erosion of personal autonomy and self-governance rights in the U.S.A. leads many to conclude that it is no longer a democracy. News organizations sanitize or ignore those protesting against the coup of 2025. People are being arrested and sent to death camps in El Salvador without due process.
There are potential solutions, but it is an uphill battle. Employ the six action steps when you can. The Supreme Court has become biased toward right-wing values. To correct this imbalance, we must take steps to secure a future for democracy.
Will we impeach those on the court who obtained their positions through nefarious and unlawful means? Or are we going to restore balance by adding qualified, unbiased individuals? When the ten basic human rights are diminished and restricted for any person, it affects everyone.
References
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The United Nations
- A non-ideal authenticity-based conceptualization of personal autonomy. The National Library of Medicine
- The Social Contract & Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Project Gutenberg
- Interpreting the International Right to Health in a Human Rights-Based Approach to Health. The National Library of Medicine
- Social Justice and Social Order: Binding Moralities across the Political Spectrum. The National Library of Medicine