Gilead’s rape culture is terrifying because it’s so much like our own.
This story contains spoilers for The Handmaids Tale episode 10.
Yet weve actually seen a rape in just about every episode of this show, includinglast week.
While those scenes have always been tough, they dont usually feel as skin-crawlingly terror-inducing as this one did.
The entire existence of Gilead is predicated on rape.
More specifically, on coercive rape.
Offred and Moira both refer to themselves as having chosen this life.
What kind of choice is sexual slavery or death by nuclear waste clean-up as a slave?
Two kinds of sexual slavery with slightly different work conditions?
This brings us to Janine, who seemed to be the only one to believe Commander Putnam loved her.
Nevertheless, its useful to distinguish between coercive and not.
Like June, were just trying to protect ourselves.
But Margaret Atwood doesnt mess around when she says she didnt make anything up in her book.
and fights back, and the handmaid who lies silent, paralyzed by her own fear.
Visit RAINN to learn more about how you’re free to help the survivors of sexual assault.
