The Role Of Women In The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

📌Category: Books
📌Words: 883
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 23 June 2021

“Freedom, like everything else, is relative.”-Margaret Atwood. Throughout history, various marginalized groups have been oppressed and dehumanized. One person’s freedom completely depends on their personal situation; people are still having their primary rights stolen from them. Therefore, protesting becomes a familiar method for fighting for the rights that should not have to be fought for. Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” depicts the importance of protesting, and how the lack thereof prevents society’s voices from being heard. Some evident connections to our lives today include; Abortion Rights, Anti-Semitism, and Segregation.

Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” firmly focuses on women possessing no control over their lives, which illustrates an extremist version of anti-abortion. Globally there have been protests supporting women and their right to have control over their own bodies. “But whose fault was it? Aunt Helena says, holding up one plump finger. Her fault, her fault, her fault, we chant in unison” (Atwood 82). This quote associates with the cycle of victim blaming, which leads to women denouncing themselves. Some may believe abortion is morally wrong. What they choose to ignore is that many abortions take place because of rape, protecting the life of the mother, or because the child would have to be given up. Certain people who are Pro-life believe that in rare cases abortion is the only option. “When someone allows for an exception to abortion in cases of rape, they are acknowledging that there are violations of autonomy that can justify abortion. And if some violations of autonomy are appropriate grounds, then it cannot be true that a right to life is morally weightier than a right to bodily autonomy” (Scarfone 2020). In large, women should not feel be shamed for the choices they make, likewise, people should not have to worry about being killed for their religion.

Throughout Atwood’s novel there are eerie connections to Nazi Germany and Anti-Sematic beliefs. Anti-Semitism hasr been a destructive force in history, and recently there has been a rise in Anti-Sematic violence. On Saturday, April 24th, there were protests in France over no trial for a Jewish woman's killer. Experts decided that the killer acted out due to marijuana use. When no trial was in place, the victim’s family and Jewish groups became upset with the situations. Protests began to change French law concerning crimes under drug use. In “The Handmaid’s Tale” Atwood wrote: “You don’t get hanged only for being a Jew, though. You get hanged for being a noisy Jew who won’t make the choice. Or for pretending to convert” (Atwood 231). This shows that speaking out against injustice can be very difficult, but it is still important to do so. When thinking of Anti-Semitism, it is simple to overlook the issue and view it as a problem of the past. This way of thinking is false and Anti-Semitism remains a terribly real issue. In 2019 an impassible door was the only thing that prevented the Yon Kippur bloodbath. The shooter claimed: “If I fail and die but kill a single Jew, it was worth it. After all, if every White Man kills just one, we win.” This depicts a very racist mindset and demonstrates how Anti-Semitism is still an issue to this day. Although many injustices towards the Jewish population were present throughout “The Handmaid’s Tale”, they were dismissed entirely. Similarly, we tend to ignore topics that have to do with religion and race.

In the past year or so there have been multiple Black Lives Matter protests and riots. Although there has been a lot media coverage around this recently, the issue of racism has been going on for generations. “The Handmaid’s Tale” does not outright mention slavery, but it is deeply rooted within connections and allusions. The dystopian world of Gilead within “The Handmaid’s Tale” portrays a society with no fundamental rights or freedoms. Unfortunately, this is how many people of color or of other marginalized groups feel within our society. In the literature there is a quote referencing slavery. “Resettlement of the Children of Ham is continuing on schedule,” says the reassuring pink face, back on the screen. “Three thousand have arrived this week in National Homeland One, with another two thousand in transit.” How are they transporting that many people at once? Trains, buses? We are not shown any pictures of this. National Homeland One is in North Dakota” (Atwood 94). This is a description of segregation and captivity. Additionally, there was the allusion of the underground female road (285 Atwood). This references the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses that smuggled escaped African American slaves in the 1800’s. As Atwood wrote in her book: “Context is all” (Atwood 166). Certain individuals choose to be ignorant and believe in All Lives Matter rather than Black Lives Matter. This reduces the problem of racism and follows the ideas of not seeing color. The BLM movement is not to take away from anyone else it is in place because it allows for focus on those who are facing the most injustice. Consequently, more should be done to raise awareness for those suffering from maltreatment.

Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" reveals how the lack of protests could lead to a loss of fundamental freedoms. Protests do not work because they have ensured results, they work because they bring attention to injustice and have the power to change people’s mindsets. Women are still fighting for the right over their own bodies. Simultaneously, people are massacred or discriminated against for their religion and race. Atwood’s novel demonstrates what a silenced population looks like and why our voices need to be heard. The process is ongoing and there is still so much to do, but the more we speak out, the more pressure there is for policies to be reshaped.

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