The submission of her body without love or desire is degrading to the woman's finer sensibility, all the marriage certificates on earth to the contrary notwithstanding.

In this quote, Margaret Sanger, a pioneering advocate for birth control and women’s rights, argues that a woman’s submission of her body in marriage, without love or desire, is degrading to her sensibility and autonomy. Sanger challenges the traditional view that marriage and sexual relations within it are automatically justified by the mere existence of a marriage certificate. She asserts that the emotional and physical aspects of intimacy must be rooted in genuine affection and mutual desire for it to be fulfilling and respectful for women, rather than merely a societal or legal obligation.

Sanger’s critique touches on the issue of female autonomy within marriage, where historically, women were expected to submit to sexual relations even if they did not feel love or desire. By highlighting the degrading nature of such an expectation, she calls attention to the importance of consent and personal agency in sexual relationships. For Sanger, the idea that a woman's body could be used without her emotional or physical involvement undermines her inherent dignity.

The quote also reflects Sanger's broader advocacy for reproductive rights and women’s liberation. She was a vocal critic of the ways in which women’s sexual and reproductive choices were restricted, particularly within the institution of marriage. Sanger believed that birth control was essential for women to regain control over their bodies and sexual lives, allowing them to make decisions based on desire and choice, not social expectation or legal constraints.

The origin of this quote can be traced to Sanger’s work in the early 20th century, during a time when marriage and sexuality were heavily regulated by both legal frameworks and social norms. As a founder of the birth control movement, Sanger challenged the societal beliefs that restricted women’s rights to make choices about their own bodies. Her activism played a significant role in shaping the conversation about women’s sexual autonomy and reproductive rights, making her an instrumental figure in advancing women’s rights in the 20th century.