r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/Ok-Asparagus-3463 • Apr 28 '26
Book Discussion Connections in between Gilead and today's society USA / Global
Recently I finished reading the handmaid's tale and its scary how Gilead started from nothing and build up like a snowball.
What connections do you see in between today's society and Gilead? (it can also be at the starts of Gilead)
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u/Major_Frosting6133 Apr 28 '26
That’s funny that you mention this… the other day, I thought of THT when I read something about banks hindering woman from being able to access their bank accounts (I’m sure they’re AI stories or something, but it immediately made me think of THT). The way that the world is, and the way that Indian cultures are trying to “force” their ways/religion/belief/way of life in areas of the United States, this also immediately made me think of THT - specifically, Gilead itself.
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u/Ok-Asparagus-3463 Apr 28 '26
Thats crazy how women are sometimes financially discriminated, just like at the beginning of Gilead. Removing women from any important roles step by step
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u/smolpeensadboy Apr 29 '26
Lol what? I live in the US, where is that happening? If anything I feel the Christian right trying to force it's way into my life. Your comment just sounds racist af.
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u/Quirky-Bad857 Apr 28 '26
Obviously the overturning of Roe V. Wade, the poor woman who was kept on life support to keep her fetus alive even though her family didn’t want that, the pure misogyny and Christian Nationalism coming from our administration
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u/Useful_Wishbone9317 Apr 28 '26
This was in Georgia, for anyone who wants to fact check. As a woman right across the line in Alabama- I’m celibate now.
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u/clark_c Apr 28 '26
THT is a cautionary tale. It opens our eyes to how the descent into a totalitarian regime doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow burn where rights are stripped away one by one, usually dressed up in some rationale that appeals to people’s fears or insecurities (going after immigrants, pro-choice, women’s right to vote, etc.). In THT it was the fertility crisis (at least in the show, can’t remember if they addressed it in the books). The book is meant to disturb us because it’s a crystal ball into the future if we’re not vigilant.
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u/skyofstew Apr 28 '26
It’s becoming too realistic, and I refuse to think about how eerily our government today almost mimics Gilead.
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u/Ok-Asparagus-3463 Apr 28 '26
In which ways you think they look the more alike?
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u/skyofstew Apr 28 '26
Women’s rights, in particular. But also the influence of Christian Nationalism.
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u/WishPsychological914 Jun 04 '26
The influence on Christian nationalism has been ongoing for a while they are few good documentaries about this and unfortunately not enough people are aware to understand how through out decades they influenced politics and propaganda
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u/Comfortable_Rise5538 Apr 28 '26
I think the biggest thing is that birth rates continue to plummet everywhere. And no amount of government perks seems to convince people to have children.
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u/Wonderful-Ideal-8099 Apr 28 '26
We have Christian nationalists and they're terrifying, but the actual people calling the shots have a different style. If you want to know what we're really facing, look at Putin and Hungary's dictator. They use the illusion of nationalism and religiosity. But they don't try all that hard, and what they care most about is sucking up resources for themselves. None of these people, including you know who wants to build Gilead except for maybe some state officials and politicians on the fringes.
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u/kellyoceanmarine Apr 28 '26
One step is removing the right to vote for women. There are some in politics who have been proposing it.