The Handmaid's Tale: Victim Blaming


    In chapter thirteen of The Handmaid's Tale, Offred thinks back to the beginning of when things began to change. She and Moira were brought to the Red Center, but were not allowed to show that they knew each other, or were even friends for that matter. The two had secret meetings in the bathrooms to exchange their thoughts and feelings. While living at the Red Center, women were called forward to tell officials about their lives prior to societal changes. A woman named Janine shares a story about being gang raped at a young age. Afterwards, they proceed to tell her that it was her own fault she was raped, because she led them on. When Janine cries, they make fun of her and show no sympathy.
   At this point in the book, I wasn't expecting for a story line like this to occur. Being a supposed "feminist" novel, there are always story lines that have stereotypical situations women are forced to endure. However, there is usually some character that defies authority and stands up to authority, but all of the women agree with the officials. No one even consoles Janine later on in the chapter, she is left to stand there and be judged by the Aunts and insulted. At this point in the book, I don't see this as a feminist novel because no one is defying authority, everyone is compliant for the most part. They accept their fate instead of trying to go up against their oppressors.

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