the handmaids tale background

synopsis

after a coup in the us a new government is implemented

book genre

dystopian future

speculative future

female fiction

setting

republic of gilead

what is republic of gilead

a theocratic totalitarian state that has been implemented

treatment of men

privilaged

treatment of women

women aren’t allowed to read or write, vote and pay

denied education

can’t move around freely in public

fertile women are subjected to state engineered rape and have children for the privileaged

social hierarchy of women

commanders wives - blue robes

aunts - brown robes

marthas - green robes

handmaids - red robes

econowives - multi coloured cloth

jezebels - costumes from the previous time

unwoman

commanders wives (blue)

married to commanders

are at the top of the social hierarchy

aunts (brown)

train the handmaids

oversea executions

physical abuse the handmaids

marthas (green)

servants of commanders who cook and clean

infertile

handmaids

engage in state engineered rape and have children for privilaged families for the regime

wear a white headress that prevents them from being from being seen and other people seeing them

econowives

do the jobs of handmaids, marthas, commanders wives

married to low status men

prostitutes at jezebels

educated and

legislation in gilead

women’s bank accounts are frozen and their money is transferred to their partners or next male of kin

women are not allowed to have jobs and earn a salary

women can’t own property

abortion and birth control are banned

women aren’t allowed to read or write

women are put in arranged marriages

the testimonies of women in court aren’t accepted