How is an “Unwoman” Defined? Essay

Historically, women and children were under the control of the father of the family. The role of women was to born babies and run the house. In the novel †The Handmaid`s Tale†, Margaret Atwood depicts a society dominated and ruled by men. Those who reject social structure and dominance of males are treated as â€Å"unwomen†. Most of them are feminists and deformed babies. These categories of people are â€Å"useless† for Gilead, because they cannot perform their main function: become pregnant and born healthy babies. â€Å"Unwomen† were females who reject the idea of male dominance and fight against oppression and sexual violence, low social role and poor treatment. Offred (and her mother) is a radical feminist which fights for freedom and a â€Å"women’s culture†. Radical ideas allow her to make sense of her own live as part of common experiences in male-dominated societies. As a radical feminist, she focuses political attention on patriarchal oppression in every area of women’s lives. The author of the article does not directly speak about Offred attitude towards a Superior society, but it is possible to assume that she would agree with this idea. The idea of women as a class identifies oppressed women as having common interests against men, since men have common interests in dominating women. In the class system, men benefit from patriarchal beliefs and practices which ensure that women service their needs, raise their children and are excluded from political and economic power. Offred tries to prove that women possess superior values against men. â€Å"Offred recalls a scene in which her mother and other feminists burn porn magazines†. To some extent, this remark shows that feminists try to be equal to men and could build a Superior society free from sexual violence and tyranny. Women have to develop consciousness of their interests as a class, and to struggle against men and against the organization of patriarchy. Gender is seen as more fundamental than class in the organization of women’s oppression. Atwood underlines that Offred â€Å"considered her body an instrument of her desires†. But as long as women are looked upon as a class, then the differences between women are not seen as of prime importance, as they have common class interests which unite them against men. References 1. Themes, Motifs & Symbols.