Handmaid's Tale Response 2

I think science and technology correlate with this book in several ways: the weaponry and methodology used to create Gilead and to oppress women and (as Megan said) the use of women as possessions.

In order to overtake Gilead, one can assume that technological weaponry was used. However, the more important weapon used was the psychology of terrorism. The people of Gilead remain under rule because of the government's time honored strategies. The military and intelligence seem to be omnipresent but more importantly the people actually BELIEVE they are omnipresent. For example, Offred refuses sex with the doctor because she is too afraid that someone will find out. Likewise, those who do rebel are cruelly murdered through archaic methods such as hangings or are punished, such as the Handmaids are with electric cattle prods. People are too afraid to simply act in the open.

Because women are treated like property, they become a sort of technology. The Marthas clean and do household work and are controlled by their “operators.” Meanwhile the Handmaid's are used purely for their fertility in society. They are like giant incubators for the men in charge. Just like a machine, they are disposable. If they are not fertile, they have no use.