Gilead in the book I certainly hope is an exaggeration - however, even as a women with a very traditional role, I do still worry that some very important reproductive choices will be taken away. I don't think this is unrealistic based on laws that are either on the books in many states (trigger laws, and many with very few exceptions), or proposals that have been put forth for potential further restrictions - such as efforts to restrict access to IUDs or other contraceptives perceived as abortificants by some parties. Just because my husband and I want children doesn't mean that we want more than the number we can provide well for. And just because we might become pregnant doesn't mean there aren't potential complications that I believe we should be able to make our own choices about. I'm actually currently in my third trimester; the first part of my pregnancy was very anxious due to new laws that were recently passed in my state, and we have seriously considered what we will do when we may start planning for a second child depending on the restrictions.

And honestly, even though I personally value a traditional relationship, I don't think that's the role that all women should have. Maybe that doesn't make me as "RP" as some - but I know plenty of women who would be stifled and incredibly unhappy in my position, aside from any discussion of family planning.

So basically - yes, "Gilead" is itself probably an exaggeration - but I don't think it's fair to minimize the very real concerns that women may have in this political climate.

I don't understand your argument.

People who draw this comparison are concerned about women ending up in childrearing situations they don't want. Being stuck at home with children against their will.

I don't think anyone's comparing women who choose to stay home with their children to Gilead.

The handmaid's tale is about forced surrogacy/ adoption and the enslavement of women so they can give birth to children for other people to raise. Some of the biggest villains in the story are other women. I don't see how it relates to abortion or contraception or women having their own children and raising those children at all.

Reproductive freedom is its own issue. The handmaid's tale is mostly about women's bodies being enslaved for surrogacy and adoption. That does happen around the world unfortunately as in women being forced to give up children but not because of patriarchy nowadays.

Having to give up a child primarily just because you are unwed is a thing of the past nowadays even in most developing countries. In developing countries the issue is usually one of poverty or bent adoption agencies. In developed countries it's bent child welfare officals and family courts. Those are the real handmaids and many of these organizations are actually mostly female run.

My two cents is I don’t see a comparison and I don’t live in the US but I’d be concerned any time the religious start legislating in accordance w their religion.

Im not religious and I don’t want decisions in my country made based on someone else’s religious beliefs. Im fine w Catholics, Pentacostals, Muslims, Jews in office as that does what it’s meant to: represent all sections of the community.

To refer to one’s conscience via religious belief is one thing but to impose or stop things based on it is another, be it abortion, gay marriage or the right of an employer to fire someone based on religious beliefs, like a shop keeper firing his unmarried and pregnant shelf stacker.

Then you start to slip into a theocracy which is exactly what democracy is opposed to.

do you mean the handmaid's tale or Gilead the book?

I don’t understand the reference.

But here’s the thing: if you ask 100 random women if their preference is a “provider” male or if they want to HAVE to work when they have babies 90% are going to say they’d rather have the guy work and pay for living expenses and not be equally responsible for household bills. The problem is more so the economy. Women HAVE to work because their spouse doesn’t earn enough to afford the lifestyle they want. The two income household is a relatively new concept.

My conspiracy theory: A ton of women left the workforce due to Covid. They lost their jobs or quit and never went back because they loved being at home once they were “forced” back into that role. That’s a big reason why we have the labor shortages and economic recession that we’re facing. Women left the workforce en masse unless they were single or work from home. Now, the economy and labor force is trying to fill an apparently significant gap. I’m 100% remote work. If they force me back 5 days a week I’m not going. I’ll find a remote job that pays less and just readjust the budget. I’m an accountant.

I have received zero negativity from being a stay at home mom. I think it’s seen as a personal choice now. My grandma has told me stories about women hiding that they were working or being embarrassed to tell people they had a job, due to how it made the husband look. I don’t think that’s the case any longer. Women with children work because they want to or need to and shouldn’t be shamed. But I personally don’t believe the government should have any involvement with any of these decisions.

I think those people are being dramatic, the US is very far from Gilead

First, I've only read the book. It's a dystopian novel from a feminist perspective. So to believe that it has any bearing on reality you have to first assume that feminist have a clue what they are talking about.

especially concerning abortion

No one has taken away the ability to have an abortion. Roe v Wade is done under the right to privacy and has always allowed for some government intervention. Overturning it has done very little bring us towards a polygamous culture with forced surrogacy.

The decisions women make to achieve the goals of marriage, having a family, and being the best wife for her husband might appear to be pro-Gilead nightmare scenarios, instead of planned and prudent behaviors from an RP perspective

Really? This only makes sense if you are so much of an idealogue that you don't believe women can make their own life choices in their own best interest.

We aren't headed towards Gilead. Atwood is selling a story of fear and shouldn't be given the time of day that she has received. Ignore the whole Handmaid's Tale phenomenon and live your life how you want.

If I recall, the forced surrogacy is a policy adopted due to plummeting fertility from a few different causes. While fertility rates in the West are below replacement rates, we're not facing the kind of fertility drop that would result in catastrophic depopulation - the US government just wasn't able to get vaccination rates for Covid high enough to pull it off.

What I find more fascinating about the novel is the degree of selfishness and short-sightedness you'd have to have in order to view having kids as the ultimate form of oppression when the human race is facing possible extinction.