Gender Roles In The Handmaid's Tale

The Imprisoned Fertility
Gender roles and stereotypes cause bondages physically and mentally because of the expectations that people cannot free themselves out of. In The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the reproductive system was the reason for Offred’s captivity, restrictions and routine. She was confined within strict regulations that the government put in place to protect their women and their chance to bear children. They protected them physically by having mandatory medical check-ups, making cigarettes illegal, and the rule for Handmaids to elevate their lower body after the Ceremony. They put a strict dress code regime, to theoretically protect women from men’s prying eyes. Their defence, which the Aunts explained, was that women’s

I also felt that I could do a more detailed creative design if I focused on the one body part with the meaningful symbolism of a greater theme, instead of the body parts of many people. The reason I decided to do pattern art, was because it is the most detailed way of visually portraying the labyrinth of emotions, paths and bondages all due to this part of the protagonist’s body.. Her reproductive system was being held captive by the stereotype that Gilead believed about women’s responsibility to procreate. Although Serena Joy mentioned the fact that maybe the Commander was, in fact, infertile, she also mentioned the fact that Offred was running out of time to have a baby. She admitted that Ofwarren and the Wife had secretly planned for Ofwarren to get pregnant by a doctor instead of the commander. These two women took matters into their own hands, by stepping out of the box as much as they possibly could to protect themselves, while being confined to their role and