Female Oppression in The Handmaid's Tale Essay Example

Women have been oppressed for many decades by men who have dehumanized and devalued their existence. Treating women as less than others leads to a divide in society, creating a world of inequality, powered by the elite males. This is proven in The Handmaid’s Tale, as Margaret Atwood shapes a world where men hold dominance over women and limit them into objects. This essay will examine how women became property of men, endured violent punishments, and experienced manipulation from entitled individuals, to support how men objectified and controlled the female gender.

Throughout the story, the Handmaid’s were deprived of all basic necessities, oppressed in many ways in the Republic of Gilead. This included their appearances and finances, as the role of women was simply to bear children. Atwood begins her novel describing the new living arrangement for these women, now referred to as Handmaid’s. Aside from their living arrangements being controlled, their physical appearance is dominated by others who are perceived as more entitled. All Handmaid’s dressed equally in the same clothing, not allowing for any characteristics to be visible. Colours of clothing are assigned to distinguish roles in society. The colour black is designated solely for the Commander’s, blue for their Wives, green for the Martha’s, and red distinguishing the Handmaid’s:

Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us. The skirt is ankle-length, full, gathered to a flat yoke that extends over the breasts, the          sleeves are full. The white wings too are prescribed issue; they are to keep us from seeing, but also from being seen (Atwood 8-9). 

This quote is significant in proving how the men rationalized controlling the women. They achieved this by stripping women of their independence of choosing what to wear, and ability to express themselves through clothing. The women’s lifestyle was not the only privilege stolen, but their sense of humanity was deprived as well. The Handmaid’s no longer were individuals, but looked upon as property. As described in the novel, the women had a constant reminder stamped on their bodies, “I cannot avoid seeing, now, the small tattoo on my ankle. Four digits and an eye, a passport in reverse. It’s supposed to guarantee that I will never be able to fade, finally, into another landscape. I am too important, too scarce for that. I am a national resource” (Atwood 60-61). The women knew they could not escape Gilead, as each were individually branded by the tattoo. Atwood continues to prove how women were seen as nothing more than objects, only identified by the four digits on the tattoo. By comparing them to a “national resource”, this continues to restate the fact women only have one role, which is to contribute to society merely by giving birth. The women were not only being oppressed by having their rights taken away on their appearances and control over their own bodies, but also their financial freedom. “Women can’t hold property anymore, it’s a new law” (Atwood 206). Here we are seeing the beginning of what will be a new world for females, as they lose their independence to males. This is one example of how Gilead seizes to control the women, while establishing power over them. Moira arrives at Offred’s home to discuss how they all were let go from their jobs, and now women’s financial accounts are being frozen. Moira furthermore explains, “They’ve frozen them. Any account with an F on it instead of an M. We’re cut off” (Atwood, 206). As accounts were frozen, the funds were transferred to a husband or male next of kin. This demonstrates how women’s rights were stolen. Women were perceived as strictly property. Women’s humanity was suppressed and controlled by males. Their physical appearances were robbed from them, as all Handmaid’s had nothing to distinguish them apart. The women were intended to be a man’s object. This occurred through branding from a tattoo, and losing all financial independence to men.

Punishments were established for those women who decided to disrespect authority figures. To keep control over the group of women, fear was instilled through various punishments. The women were aware that if they crossed any lines considered disrespectful, it could ultimately cost them their lives. “It was the feet they’d do, for a first offense. They used steel cables, frayed at the ends. After that the hands. They didn’t care what they did to your feet or your hands, even if it was permanent. For our purposes your feet and your hands are not essential” (Atwood 104). Focusing on the importance of the last sentence in this quote reflects on how the women had one purpose, simply to become pregnant. Therefore, the punishments they endured on their extremities would not interfere with child bearing. Just as damaging as physical punishments, mental punishments were openly displayed for all the women to witness, and join in the harassment. “This week Janine doesn’t wait for us to jeer at her. It was my fault, she says. It was my own fault. I led them on. I deserved the pain” (Atwood 83). This reflects a mental punishment of humiliating a woman in a public setting. In order to retain power over the Handmaid’s, it was essential for men to create tension, in order to prevent female unity. The Aunts thrived on pinning the women against each other, as they brainwashed all of the Handmaid’s into believing that Janine’s rape was her fault. The ultimate punishment of women, convicted of a crime was public Salvaging. “The white bag placed over the head, the woman helped upon to the high stool, as if she’s being helped up the steps of a bus, steadied there, the noose adjusted delicately around the neck, like a vestment, the stool kicked away” (Atwood 317). This explanation of Salvaging creates a visual to the reader about the process of execution. The women were publicly hung for acts that were not considered sinful, prior to them becoming Handmaid’s. Salvaging was an event used to demonstrate the ultimate punishment of a committed crime. The punishments varied, depending on the severity of the crime committed. They were punished physically through lashings and beatings, mentally through public humiliation, and ultimately murdered by hangings. 

The Handmaid’s were easily manipulated by those of higher power. They were programmed to believe the life they used to live and the way they portrayed themselves was a sin. Offred and Ofglen were fascinated by the Japanese tourists. The women wore skirts that showed off their legs with high heel shoes. Their hair uncovered, with makeup enhancing the beauty of their faces, “We are fascinated, but also repelled. They seem undressed. It has taken so little time to change our minds about things like this (Atwood 32). This quote demonstrates how the women were manipulated into thinking that sexuality is indeed a sin. They were manipulated by the men into feeling that portraying themselves in such way was demeaning through brainwashing. Instead of admiring the beauty of these women, Offred and Ofglen were “repelled” by how the Japanese women presented themselves. Serena manipulates Offred by exploiting her emotions for her missing daughter. To convince Offred to commit a sin that could result in her execution, Serena knows the only way to convince Offred is to blackmail her with a picture of her daughter, stating, “Maybe I could get something for you, something you want”. Offred looks at Serena puzzled. “Of her, your little girl. But only maybe” (Atwood pg?). Serena exploits her power over Offred by offering her an outcome that is worth dying for if caught. Knowing that Offred would never break the rules, the only way to encourage her to do so would be through manipulation, of using Offred’s love for her daughter. It is risky for the Handmaid’s to be seen out in the community unchaperoned. The Commander manipulates Offred by utilizing his status over her to attend the club, dressed in a sexual outfit. He knew that she would find enticement in feeling some freedom, as she thinks to herself, “I know without being told that what he’s proposing is risky, for him but especially for me; but I want to go anyway. I want anything that breaks the monotony, subverts the perceived respectable order of things” (Atwood 267). Knowing what she is about to embark on is considered a disrespectful act, Offred agrees to go along with it. The Commander manipulates Offred by showering her with a sexy garment and make-up to persuade her into committing a sin, by providing her an opportunity to feel freedom. Through brainwashing, exploitation of emotions, and enticing a need, those in control were able to manipulate a situation to serve a purpose strictly for their own benefit.

In a world where status and gender exhibited power over women, the men embraced their influence as they mistreated the women in several different ways. Women had to suffer violent punishments, were treated and objectified like property, and were subjected to manipulation by those who were deemed entitled. Although women were oppressed by society, they were able to overcome the male dominance inflicted on them, by finding strength within themselves and one another.