Masking the Women (#7)

Something that I took note of while reading this week is the amount of times Atwood mentions how the women are hidden in one way or another. This includes being hidden physically or figuratively. This could point the reader in the direction that the patriarchal society is trying to rid women of the femininity. I noticed this especially with the Handmaids. For one, the handmaids lose their womanly curves and figure by putting on the garment that they are forced to wear. They are draped in essentially a red cover, hiding every part of their body. While this uniform is apparently used to protect the women from men's sexual urges, it still is used to degrade women and prove to them that it is their bodies that men want. Going along with that point, Handmaids are only essential for their reproductive organs and therefore, are not a worthy member in this patriarchal society. When having sexual encounters with the Commanders, the Handmaids are only seen for their one sexual purpose and are not displayed as a passionate, sensual being. Rather, they are portrayed solely as an object and as a way to create new life. The Handmaids are also physically hidden from society. They are locked in their own rooms that are not even really theirs. The Handmaids are only allowed out of their rooms to go on their errands, and even then they are isolated from the other shoppers. Women who are not the Handmaids are also isolated from the men too as they are not allowed to read. The shop signs and words are blocked out from their view, since reading is too much of a privilege. Atwood's descriptions of the hidden women is an extreme example of how women can sometimes be viewed today which sheds a light on this the issue of women's rights.

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