Women of Gilead

The women of Gilead had their jobs and duties broken down and divided among other women. This also caused women to police themselves into following the state’s rules. In the historical notes this control of women over women is mentioned by Pieixoto in being a staple for empires with “indigenous members.” In a comparison to today, women are taught to police one another into our societal rules and standards. Deviating from the norm of sexuality, dress or behavior becomes grounds for ridicule by other women. The secret May Day society in The Handmaid’s Tale shows a resistance of women who wish to assist one another and break society’s rules and norms. May Day can be compared to today’s many different feminist groups that work to assist women and create a new norm for women and men’s sexuality, dress, behaviors and jobs.

The Handmaid’s Tale showed many aspects of today’s world in a different way. Readers were able to look at today’s world and think critically about how people are impacted by our cultural norms. Women specifically in the novel and in our society are treated differently than the other half of society, men. This book outrageously depicts the horrors of the loss of autonomy for women but it also helps one think critically about our world.