When read as an extrapolation of the context in which it was written, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is certainly a feminist novel in that it creates a dystopian vision of a patriarchal caste system. However, Atwood tends to dwell on the feminist positions that are at odds with each other, and critiques this by giving readers a dystopia in which women play a key role in each other’s subjugation. This lack of female solidarity is primarily due to polarized opinions among women regarding equal rights. Specifically, the characters of Serena Joy and Offred’s mother are used to explore how misunderstandings of feminism could result in a backlash and lead to more extreme repression.
Gilead’s caste system allows women to hold positions …show more content…
These women fought to hold on to traditional values that would return women to the home, even if it meant sacrificing their rights and stonewalling other women’s attempts to obtain them. It’s precisely what happens in The Handmaid’s Tale, which is eloquently summarized by Aunt Lydia: “There is more than one kind of freedom. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don’t underrate it.” Despite the fact that women have been stripped of their rights, Aunt Lydia insists that they’re now free from things like sexist catcalls and potential abuse from …show more content…
Many would argue that Third and Fourth-Wave Feminism evolved from the radicalism within the Second Wave, and despite the fact that there have been many modern celebrities who have spoken up to defend feminism as a fight for equality (Emma Watson, Beyoncé, Ellen Page, Miley Cyrus), there’s still stigma surrounding the word. For example, in 2014, a meme went viral on Tumblr as part of the #YesAllWomen social media campaign. It was in response to 22-year-old Elliot Rodger, who stabbed his roommates before going on a shooting rampage near UC-Santa Barbara that spring. He killed six people before taking his own life. His YouTube channel gained millions of hits as a result; he posted 21 “Vlogs” during the 3 months leading up to the shooting, wherein he complained about the fact that he was still a virgin and how it was “a major problem that girls weren’t sexually attracted to him.” Of course, this triggered many radical feminists, who took to social media to shake things up by comparing men to poisoned M&Ms. What’s interesting is they all ignored the fact that four of the six people Rodger killed were men, and that he was sick and angry at the world in general, not just women. Social media, when used correctly, is an incredible advantage for any justice movement. But it’s also very easy for misinformation to spread and influence a large number of people in a short amount of
Gilead’s caste system allows women to hold positions …show more content…
These women fought to hold on to traditional values that would return women to the home, even if it meant sacrificing their rights and stonewalling other women’s attempts to obtain them. It’s precisely what happens in The Handmaid’s Tale, which is eloquently summarized by Aunt Lydia: “There is more than one kind of freedom. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don’t underrate it.” Despite the fact that women have been stripped of their rights, Aunt Lydia insists that they’re now free from things like sexist catcalls and potential abuse from …show more content…
Many would argue that Third and Fourth-Wave Feminism evolved from the radicalism within the Second Wave, and despite the fact that there have been many modern celebrities who have spoken up to defend feminism as a fight for equality (Emma Watson, Beyoncé, Ellen Page, Miley Cyrus), there’s still stigma surrounding the word. For example, in 2014, a meme went viral on Tumblr as part of the #YesAllWomen social media campaign. It was in response to 22-year-old Elliot Rodger, who stabbed his roommates before going on a shooting rampage near UC-Santa Barbara that spring. He killed six people before taking his own life. His YouTube channel gained millions of hits as a result; he posted 21 “Vlogs” during the 3 months leading up to the shooting, wherein he complained about the fact that he was still a virgin and how it was “a major problem that girls weren’t sexually attracted to him.” Of course, this triggered many radical feminists, who took to social media to shake things up by comparing men to poisoned M&Ms. What’s interesting is they all ignored the fact that four of the six people Rodger killed were men, and that he was sick and angry at the world in general, not just women. Social media, when used correctly, is an incredible advantage for any justice movement. But it’s also very easy for misinformation to spread and influence a large number of people in a short amount of