---
title: "“A woman has the right to control her own body, which includes ending a pregnancy; the state should not force her to gestate.”"
description: "A woman has the right to control her own body, which includes ending a pregnancy; the state should not force her to gestate."
type: "argument"
id: "def-bodily-autonomy"
category: "Philosophical"
mode: "Defensive"
source_url: "https://www.abhortion.org/arguments/def-bodily-autonomy.html"
---

# “A woman has the right to control her own body, which includes ending a pregnancy; the state should not force her to gestate.”

**Category:** Philosophical · **Mode:** Defensive · responds to an objection

## The objection

**The claim:**

> "A woman has the right to control her own body, which includes ending a pregnancy; the state should not force her to gestate."

_A pro-choice argument._

### The strongest version of this argument

Bodily autonomy is a serious moral principle: no one is normally required to give up the use of their body to sustain another, and pregnancy imposes profound physical burdens uniquely on women. Restrictive laws also raise real questions about women's equal civic standing.

## The response

Bodily autonomy is real but not absolute; it ends where it takes an innocent human life. The unborn child is a distinct human being with its own body, DNA, and (often) a different blood type and sex — not a part of the mother's body. Autonomy does not license killing another person, and no other area of law treats 'it's my body' as a defense for homicide. Scripture and the equal-protection principle both hold that the vulnerable person's right to life constrains what may be done to them (Prov. 24:11-12; Ex. 21:22-25). Christians can affirm real mercy and material support for mothers while denying that autonomy extends to ending a second life.

## Discussion questions

1. Is the unborn child part of the woman's body, or a distinct body within hers — and how does the biology bear on the claim?
2. Does 'my body' function as a defense to homicide anywhere else in law?

## References

- [When Human Life Begins — 'a whole, genetically distinct, individuated zygotic living human organism'](https://acpeds.org/when-human-life-begins/) _(medical position statement)_
  American College of Pediatricians · ACPeds
  **Supports:** the unborn is a distinct organism, not part of the mother's body
- [Equality Emerges as a Ground for Abortion Rights (pro-choice equal-protection / bodily-autonomy counter)](https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/faculty/papers/franklin-siegel-equality-emerges-chapter-2-endnotes.pdf) _(opposing view)_
  Franklin & Siegel · Yale Law
  **Supports:** fullest statement of the autonomy/equality argument being answered

## Related

**Related scriptures:**

- [Exodus 21:22-25](../scripture/exodus-21-22-25.md)
- [Proverbs 24:11-12](../scripture/proverbs-24-11-12.md)
- [Genesis 9:6](../scripture/genesis-9-6.md)

**Related arguments:**

- [The unborn bear the image of God, so abortion is murder — a different category than 'a hard choice'](arg-image-of-God.md)
- [The science of embryology says a new human being exists from fertilization](arg-embryology-conception.md)