In China, millions of women have been forced to have abortions, whether they wanted them or not.

Because their government felt entitled to women’s bodies.

In many nations throughout the world, female genital mutilation is commonly practiced.

Because their communities feel entitled to women’s bodies.

In the US between 1900 and the 1970s between 100,000 and 150,000 women — disproportionately women of color, as well as poor women and the mentally challenged — were forcibly sterilized in federally funded eugenics programs.

Because our government felt entitled to women’s bodies.

A similar program saw 30% of Puerto Rican women sterilized by 1965. They were dishonestly told the procedure was reversible.

Because our government felt entitled to women’s bodies.

In many states, the law requires abortion providers to lie to their patients, rendering them incapable of informed consent.

Because those governments feel entitled to women’s bodies.

Hobby Lobby won the right to provide unequal medical insurance coverage to its female employees.

Because that company and others like it feel entitled to women’s bodies.

When women are raped, the questions always focus on her — what was she wearing, was she drunk, was she alone in a bad neighborhood, did she flirt, is she promiscuous, did she and the perp have a sexual history together?

Because the assumption is that men are entitled to women’s bodies.

Women’s choices are questioned, challenged, limited, shamed. Their appearance is picked apart, commented on, focused on.

Because our society feels entitled to women’s bodies.

Enough!

We are not children.

We are not weak-minded.

We are not property.

We are not things.

We belong to ourselves.

No one else is entitled to our bodies.

“Come And Take It” graphic created by Dan Wilkinson for this article by Christy Caine.

About Lynette Cowper

Lynette Cowper is a Christian who is active in her church’s worship and drama ministries. As a parent of two children, one on the LGBTQIA spectrum and one on the autism spectrum, she has a deep passion toward justice for those society too often sees as outsiders. Lynette blogs at A Rindle of Words.