To enter a place, country, or situation by force or without permission, often to take control or cause harm.
From Latin *invadere* “to go into, attack,” from *in-* “into” and *vadere* “to go.” It originally described armies advancing into enemy territory.
We talk about countries invading, but the same word describes things like viruses invading cells or ads invading your privacy. The pattern is always the same: crossing a boundary where you don’t belong.
Beyond military contexts, 'invade' is used for invasions of privacy and bodily autonomy, domains where women and gender minorities have faced systematic violations (e.g., reproductive control, surveillance, harassment). Language about 'invading space' often reflects gendered norms about who is allowed to occupy public or professional spaces.
Use 'invade' carefully when talking about bodies and privacy; center consent and avoid metaphors that trivialize experiences like sexual assault or harassment.
["enter without consent","violate","breach","encroach upon"]
Women and gender-diverse activists have led movements against invasions of privacy and bodily autonomy, from reproductive rights to digital surveillance, reframing these as structural issues rather than private misfortunes.
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