Abstract
This article discusses the book, The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood. Recently made into a televised series, the book which was written in 1985, presents a dystopic/futuristic vision of an American future where women have no rights and function in terms of the wider needs of a Puritanical society, Gilead.
This book has received attention recently because of some of the parallels that can be drawn between the evangelical utterings of the current US Republican administration, and the fictional world which Atwood created over 30 years ago.
The book also however, raises a whole raft of questions which lie at the foundations of feminism: the relationships which exist between women, the role of reproduction and power, sexuality, repression and resistance.
This article will look at the key themes in the book alongside recent discussions about the lessons which can be learnt from the text and the warnings we need to heed.
This book has received attention recently because of some of the parallels that can be drawn between the evangelical utterings of the current US Republican administration, and the fictional world which Atwood created over 30 years ago.
The book also however, raises a whole raft of questions which lie at the foundations of feminism: the relationships which exist between women, the role of reproduction and power, sexuality, repression and resistance.
This article will look at the key themes in the book alongside recent discussions about the lessons which can be learnt from the text and the warnings we need to heed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 261 |
| Number of pages | 269 |
| Journal | Journal of Gender-Based Violence |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2017 |
Keywords
- dystopia
- eminism
- state violence
Access to Document
- Full-text PDF (accepted author manuscript)
This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Policy Press at www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/tpp/jgbv/2017/00000001/00000002/art00009#expand/collapse . Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.