The autonomy women have over their own lives is under challenge today. A few years ago I began researching for the purpose of constructing a textbook on Female autonomy and Civic engagement.

Today the very autonomy I had taken for granted at the time I commenced my research is under attack. Rather than advance the unique qualities each human being brings to each interaction with others, there are forces at work to limit our range of choices and restrict our freedom of thought, movement and our very being.

Autonomy presupposes the ability to freely make choices over how one identifies and interacts with others. Self identification enables a person to self name, self describe, and inform others of those choices. Those choices may range from the type of work we do, the religious and moral beliefs which guide our activities to the way we choose to clothe ourselves, adorn ourselves and interact with others.

Follow this column as I begin to describe and celebrate choice in more detail.