The handmaid's uniform

Question 1

“the colour of blood, which defines us”

Answer 1

• shame and failure
• menstruation = failure to conceive.
• loss of self-belief –> accepting their role as deserved.
• women are constantly made to feel shame about their own bodies and their ability to conceive.

Question 2

“keeps us from seeing and from being seen”

Answer 2

• isolation and loss of identity (constant objectification of women).
• restricting knowledge and power.
  If a woman’s place is the home, her knowledge and power is restricted.

Question 3

“ankle-length”

Answer 3

• ironic given handmaid’s jobs include sex.
• about modesty (supposedly).
• sexualises and objectifies the female body (social construct).
• divorces women from their own sexuality (about patriarchal control and victim blaming).

Question 4

“the sleeves are full”

Answer 4

covered hands (handcuffs?) - restricted agency.

Question 5

hair covered

Answer 5

symbolic of femininity and sexuality.

Question 6

“flat-heeled to save the spine”

Answer 6

• to protect women’s health
• modesty - high heels change posture.

Question 7

Paradox

Answer 7

Women are expected to be both chaste/modest and sexually available.

Question 8

Links to Streetcar

Answer 8

• Blanche vs handmaids = neither wins despite following the rules (Atwood and Williams criticising impossible expectations placed on women).
• Blanche & handmaids are condemned for going along with expectations.
• Stella (desire) and handmaids (lack desire), specifically Offred, remain with their man in order to stay safe and not challenge the normal regime.