The Chilling Resemblance: 10 Startling Instances That Mirror Gilead's Reality

Summary

The Handmaid's Tale draws inspiration from real-world events and historical injustices, highlighting the terrifying connections between fiction and reality.

The reversal of Roe v. Wade and the curbing of women's reproductive freedoms resemble the oppressive legislations illustrated in The Handmaid's Tale, where women are compelled to bear children against their consent.

The dress regulations implemented in Gilead and in reality, including those imposed by religious organizations, are covert means of exerting authority over women's bodies and decisions.

Warning: The following content contains sensitive topics such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, abortion, female genital mutilation (FGM), and death.

While watching The Handmaid's Tale, it may be tempting to disregard the atrocities of Gilead as mere fiction. However, the unsettling truth behind Margaret Atwood's book and its television adaptation is that much of the narrative draws inspiration from real historical events and ongoing situations. Originally published in 1985, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood has since been developed into a television series by Hulu in 2017. The story centers around June, a young woman forced into the role of a surrogate mother in a chilling future where women are subjected to sexual enslavement in order to boost the world's dwindling population.

10 Innocent Women Were Persecuted During The Salem Witch Trials

The Handmaid's Tale is a deeply disturbing dystopian TV show that tragically reflects events from real history. This unsettling connection to reality only amplifies the horror of the story, underscoring how even the most horrifying scenarios can have ties to our own world. While certain aspects of The Handmaid's Tale may be rooted in the distant past, others persist today, posing a grave threat to women's rights and society as a whole. Ultimately, this haunting series reminds us that, on certain levels, we are not so different from the villains we witness on-screen.

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1693 serve as a poignant example of historical oppression depicted in The Handmaid's Tale. In colonial Massachusetts, numerous towns conducted hearings and executions, wrongly accusing women of witchcraft. Despite lacking substantial evidence, these innocent women faced public execution, with over 200 individuals falling under scrutiny during this dark period. The manipulation of justice and condemnation of innocents in this infamous event echoes the disturbing themes of the show, as its characters navigate the oppressive Gilead regime, subject to its misogynistic rules.

9 Overturning Roe V. Wade Restricted Women's Reproductive Rights

The overturning of Roe V. Wade in 2022 mirrors the issues presented in The Handmaid's Tale. This landmark court case, which protected the right to abortions in the United States, allowed women nationwide to access safe and legal procedures. However, the decision was reversed, leading to the implementation of stricter abortion laws and the prohibition of abortions in multiple states.

These laws bear resemblance to those depicted in The Handmaid's Tale, as both infringe upon women's rights and exert control over their bodies. In both the real world and the fictional Gilead, women's reproductive rights are revoked, and the government assumes authority. In both scenarios, women are compelled by law to give birth to unwanted or unmanageable children. Consequently, the overturning of Roe V. Wade constitutes a notable step towards the dystopia presented in The Handmaid's Tale.

8 Female Dress Codes Exist In The Present Day

Though a minor detail, the female dress codes portrayed in The Handmaid's Tale serve as a subtle means of control exercised by Gilead over its female populace. Remarkably, such scenarios have manifested in real life as well. Notably, religious factions like the Amish and the FLDS Church impose dress codes on women, encompassing head coverings and loose, demure attire. Similarly, The Handmaid's Tale depicts a comparable scenario, where the handmaids don eye-catching scarlet dresses and white bonnets, while the wives don an aura of tranquility in their teal garbs, all of which adhere to modest fashion. These dress codes continue to be prevalent in contemporary society.

7 Public Executions Happened Throughout Early American History

The Handmaid's Tale depicts a disturbing aspect of history that is reminiscent of real-life barbarism: public executions. In the series, June and her fellow handmaids witness the horrific sight of victims of public executions being displayed on city walls during their walks. While this behavior may be repulsive, it is not a fictional concept. In fact, public executions persisted in the United States until 1936, and the guillotine used during the French Revolution remains a prominent example. Ultimately, this depiction of brutality in The Handmaid's Tale serves as a chilling reminder of the dark chapters of human history that have gradually been eradicated.

6 Criminalizing Same-Sex Relationships Until The 2000s

An especially intriguing character in The Handmaid's Tale is Emily, alternatively referred to as Ofglen. Emily defies norms as a rebel, being a member of the resistance group known as Mayday, and also identifying as part of the LGBTQ community. Tragically, Emily faces brutal repercussions due to her sexual orientation being deemed illegal within The Handmaid's Tale. It might come as a surprise, but same-sex relationships remained unlawful in certain regions of the United States until 2003. Moreover, prior to the 21st century, any same-sex relationships in the country were subject to legal punishment. Thus, anti-gay laws in the United States parallel Gilead's stance for an extended period, and even today, the LGBTQ community continues to lack adequate support.

5 Women Advocated For Traditional Gender Roles In The 1950s And 1960s

Contrary to what may seem unrealistic, characters such as Serena Joy from The Handmaid's Tale promote a sexist government, which surprisingly mirrors certain realities. The ascent of the nuclear family, domesticity, and subsequently, anti-feminism, gained immense popularity. Figures like Phyllis Schlafly championed conventional gender roles, compelling women to adhere solely to the roles of housewives and mothers. Similar to Serena Joy's endorsement of her husband's misogynistic regime, Schlafly and other women in real life oppressed women by restraining them within traditional boundaries instead of championing women's freedom.

4 FGM Still Happens Around The World

Female genital mutilation, or FGM, experienced by several female characters in The Handmaid's Tale is undeniably disturbing. This practice involves the cutting or removal of female genital organs. The prospect alone is horrifying, but what makes it even worse is the fact that FGM continues to exist in the real world and remains prevalent to this day. According to Stylist, it is estimated that 140 million girls and women have undergone FGM. These procedures are still being carried out in certain regions of Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. The presence of FGM in The Handmaid's Tale serves as a stark reminder to audiences that this distressing issue is a harsh reality that persists today.

3 Religion Informed Government During The 17th Century

The government in The Handmaid's Tale's Gilead combines both patriarchal and religious elements, drawing a clear parallel to the theocracy that formed the basis of the United States. During the 17th century settlement of America, religion played a dominant role in governance, with minimal separation between the two. Early American Protestants constructed their laws and way of life around the teachings and doctrines of the Bible. Similar to The Handmaid's Tale, Gilead's Christian-based government prioritizes modesty while granting greater authority to men over women. Hence, Gilead can be seen as intricately connected to America's Protestant and pilgrim origins.

2 "Promiscuous" Women Were Incarcerated In The Early 20th Century

1 Forced Separation Of Mothers And Children Happens In The Present

In The Handmaid's Tale, women like Emily, who fall outside the societal norms of womanhood such as LGBTQ individuals, abortion patients, and rebels, are unjustly detained and compelled to toil in labor camps as punishment for their "crimes." Interestingly, a little-known chapter of US history vividly mirrors this appalling scenario. During the early 1900s, following World War I, women deemed "promiscuous" were incarcerated. The majority of these women were non-white immigrants and working-class individuals who were perceived as carriers of sexually transmitted diseases or defying traditional sexual norms. Collectively referred to as The American Plan, this particular period in history directly correlates to the marginalized status of the discarded handmaids in The Handmaid's Tale.

The scenario depicted in The Handmaid's Tale, where handmaids endure sexual abuse, coerced childbirth, and subsequent separation from their children, stands out as an immensely significant and brutal aspect of the novel. Although Gilead's system is a work of fiction, the final step in this nightmarish ordeal resonates with the reality experienced not only in the United States but also across the globe. Throughout history, there have been instances where children were forcibly taken away from their mothers due to various circumstances. A compelling illustration of this is the forced removal of Native American children, who were assimilated into white schools and families. This deeply distressing situation portrayed in The Handmaid's Tale vividly reflects the heart-wrenching aspects of both the book and our own society.

Source: Stylist