Handmaids Tale 2

So what should a woman's role be? Are women nothing more than tools to serve the needs of men, or are they more? Where do women fit in our society? Those are the questions the book seems to ask.

After reading the book I still don't have a good indication of the writer's bias. Ms. Atwood describes pre-Gilead society as one where women were abused, tortured, and murdered. However, Ms. Atwood describes Gileadean society as one where women are servants, prostitutes, and hanged. Ms. Atwood describes pre-Gilead society as one where women couldn't lift their heads up, couldn't be proud, and could only live in fear. However she describes Gileadean society as one where Asian women, who are stereotypically known for being meek and submissive, tour the city and marvel at the meekness and submissiveness of the women of Gilead.

So I don't really understand the point she is trying to make. Is she trying to say that women are screwed in all situations? Is she saying the plight of women is an unenviable one?

I have a slightly different take on it. Although the book has a feminist bend to it, I still believe this book is more concerned with preserving liberties, than promoting feminist propaganda.