Autonomy

I did not understand what this word meant. Why was it important? I read the definition “self-directing freedom, especially moral independence” A word that had meaning but carried no weight. No never meant no. It meant a laugh, a sneer or worse was completely ignored. Rights were something given to those who “deserved” them. White men who somehow just by nature of pigmentation and gender could take what they wanted and do whatever harm they pleased. Autonomy was for the chosen ones I thought. A word made up for others. My life completely changed not long ago. A hard fought struggle for something I didn’t think existed. I looked and saw it there with me. “self-directing freedom, especially moral independence” I didn’t recognize it at first. Then it came to me. Autonomy. :)