Misogyny and Compliance in The Handmaid's Tale

Fear is used as a tool of manipulation to assert
dominance

Example: Elimination of choice in daily life, enforced illiteracy, society involved in the punishment of offenders (Salvagings), the Red Centre, The Eyes/the black vans, public display of execution, threat of banishment to the Colonies

The government of Gilead could be viewed as a metaphor for male dominance

For years, it was under the rule of men that women were unable to work, receive an education and vote. Any attempt in doing so would result in legal punishment and social ridicule.

Women cannot vote, hold property or jobs, read, or do anything else that might allow them to become subversive or independent

“There is no such thing as a sterile man anymore, not officially. There are only women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that’s the law.” (Atwood, 61)

The law represents another example of society’s use of women as scapegoats

Follows an extremist Christian theology where the order of life is based on a literal fundamentalist interpretation of the Old Testament

The novel is a criticism of the way people utilize religion and the bible to justify their own oppressive views

Atwood uses the theocracy of Gilead to illustrate the consequences of allowing religion into politics

“I said, I have made a life for myself, here, of a sort. That must have been what the settlers’ wives thought, and women who survived wars, if they had a man. Humanity is so adaptable, my mother would say. Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.” (Atwood, 271)

Offred made no attempt to save herself, proof of how this society can break peoples will

Offred complying and accepting her fate is similar to how some women have accepted the sexism within society and chose not to fight against it

She never rebelled against gender norms and expectations prior to her life as a Handmaid and she does not rebel against the more extreme gender norms of Gilead.

The language used in daily conversation consists of biblical phrases: “blessed day”, “blessed be the fruit”, “may the lord open”, “praise be” and “under his eye”.

"Under his eye" is how the Handmaids say goodbye. It means someone is always watching them.

Offred’s white wings severely limit her own ability to see. Meanwhile, she constantly feels observed and threatened by the eyes.

Obstructing her ability to see is a way to keep her ignorant to what is happening around her.

She is put at a physical disadvantage to those of a higher ranking

Offred constantly feels observed and threatened by the eyes.

In a male-dominated society, the way men look at women is a form of control and even violence.

"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" (Atwood, 65)

The purpose of tattooing the eye on the bodies of the handmaids emphasizes that they exist wholly under the ownership and watch of the rulers of Gilead.

Caste System

Marthas

Servants, responsible for cooking, cleaning and running a household

Typically infertile women who had come from low class families

Wives

Married to high ranking men

Top of the social ladder

Handmaids

One of the few remaining fertile women

Is given to one of the households for the purpose of reproduction

Any failure to reproduce falls onto the Handmaid and they are punished by being sent to the colonies

Aunts

Responsible for brainwashing, training and teaching the Handmaids

The highest rank for a working women

Similarities

Women are restricted into traditional roles

Cook, mother, maid, wife

Discrimination based off of status and wealth

Example: The only difference between a Martha and a Wife is that a Wife came from a wealthy family

Janine shared that she was raped and had an abortion. The Aunts make the rest of the Handmaids tell Janine that it was her fault. The Aunts want Janine to internalize the idea that she led her rapists on, they also want to indoctrinate in the others that women are to blame in these situations.

"But whose fault was it? Aunt Helena says, holding up one plump finger. Her fault, her fault, her fault, we chant in unison. Who led them on? Aunt Helena beams, pleased with us. She did. She did. She did. Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen? Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson." (Atwood, 72)

Similarities

In our own world, a lot of people believe victims of rape or abuse are to blame for what happened to them

People will ask questions such as "What was she wearing?" or "Was she leading him on?"

Todd Akins, a former American politician, had released a statement saying that victims of “legitimate rape” very rarely get pregnant because their bodies prevent them from doing so.

This is one of the many, many examples of our communities invalidating victims of assault and pushing the blame back onto the victim.

Citation: Cohen, David. "Akin: 'Legitimate rape' rarely leads to pregnancy." Politico, Aug. 19, 2012

Serena Joy

Serena Joy is restricted by Gilead and is still viewed as "less than" in the eyes of the law. However, her status has given her power over other women in Gilead. She exploits the power she holds over Offred.

Aunt Lydia

The Aunts are responsible for the torture and psychological abuse of Handmaids. They are the ones to preach and inculcate the misogynistic beliefs of Gilead.

Similarities

Many women are not only complicit with the sexism present in our society but actively participate in encouraging these beliefs

Internalized Misogyny: when women subconsciously project sexist ideas onto other women and even onto themselves

Cherry, Nina. "Internalized Misogyny: What Does it Look Like? How Do You Stop it?" UMKC Women's Center, 16 Nov. 2018