Gender Roles In Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood

In the years of 1955 till about 1985 the role of men was that they were the bread winners with higher paid jobs and education. Today, men are no longer the sole providers. Men share jobs and careers with women. With they are now not willing to marry and settle down as much. In the Novel “Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, the indeterminate future, a group of men, called the Gileadean Revolutionaries, decided to take control, and start a community of their own. They wanted to restore the US after terrorism destroyed the government, but they wanted a more controlled environment. They decided to have gender segregation that were strictly separated. The men were separated into four groups. The women were separated into eight groups. Each group

The men ranged from highest power to least: Commander's, Eye’s, Angel’s, and Guardian’s. The Commanders are the highest power in the house. They are entitled to a handmaid, at least one Martha’s, and a guardian. Apparently, most of them are infertile. The Commander’s wear black. The Eye’s, are the secret police. They try to find who violates the rules of the Gilead. The Angels were the soldiers that fought for the Gilead. They help expand and protect the country’s borders. The Commander’s gave them permission to marry. Then there's the Guardian’s, they are part of the army, but not as important as the Angel’s. They help keep an eye on the Commander’s house, help the wives with their gardens, and help stand by the check points. When a Guardian comes of age they have a chance to be promoted to an Angel. There are poorer men that live in the colonies that can marry the econowives, but are not mentioned on what their roles

They are giving roles based on their fertility and obedience. The highest power of the women are the wives to the Commander’s. The wives are unable to bear any children, so the handmaids are there to bear them for them. The wives wear blue dresses. The Aunts are unmarried, infertile older women who help control and police women. They watch and train the handmaid’s otherwise they would be sent to the colonies. They wear brown dresses with belts that have cattle prods attached. They are the only women allowed to read and write. The Handmaid’s, who play an important role in the book. They bear the children that the wives cannot. They are belittled and stripped of all powers. Not allowed to read, vote, and write. They wear red dress with red shoes, red gloves, and white bonnets. When going out within the walls they have to walk in two. The Martha’s are older infertile women that have domestic skills. They are compliant, so allowed to serve the Commander’s instead of going to the colonies. They wear dull green dresses with white aprons. The Econowives are the ones married to the poor men. They have all the duties as a wife and handmaid. They wear striped dress with red, blue, and green colors. The Unpeople are a range of different types of people. They are sterile, unmarried, feminists, nuns, and political women that are also incapable of social integration as the Republic of Gilead