Would you be a Handmaid, Martha or Jezebel?

[FortunesFave]

Re-watched some of the Handmaid's Tale and started thinking what I'd be if I lived in that world.

I'd be a Martha I think. I'm too old for them to choose me as a Handmaid and I think my lifestyle would ensure I got to be a Martha.

What were the criteria for Jezebels though?

There is also the community of people who were married and had children. If they had lived the "moral" lifestyle seen fit by the government they could stay together as a family.

My first child was out of wedlock, but we then married and have another together. I'm not sure if that would make me a handmaid or allow us a place in the "better" community.

I’d like to think I could be an econowife since I’m married and have two children

But one child was born out of wedlock...so maybe I will be seen as needing correction and would be a handmaid...

Yeah I've thought about this. If DH didn't get himself arrested for heretical actions I would probably be an econo wife, which aren't really mentioned in the series. We were married, first time to each other and had children after marriage, so marriage and children would still be legal. Although we weren't married in church, so maybe not?

We wouldn't be high up and wouldn't subscribe to the new order of things so wouldn't be commander and wife.

If DH did get arrested I guess I would be a handmaid for another couple of years. Not sure what happens to handmaid's once they get too old, colonies, become a Martha?

I like to think I would resist, but actually I am a rule follower and would want to protect my children.

I would probably have been carted of to to die slowly from toxic poisoning in the colonies.

I'm too old to be a handmaid or a jezebel so I'd hope I got a comfortable billet as a Martha. I'm quite domesticated.

Probably an econowife. We keep our heads down, married then have children.

Although I have recently commited the terrible sin of lettjng my children play in a playground so I don't know how that would affect our status...

I'd hope I'd be an econowife as I'm on my first marriage and have kids, but sadly I'm a Catholic so I suspect off to the Colonies with me.

So glad someone has started this thread we've discussed it at work several times!

I'd be handmaid as young and fertile but have been immoral

Jezeabels I believe are young and pretty but infertile.

Well I'm married with children and DH's job is a profession so will be reasonably high up enough but not as high as Commanders (e.g. doctors and dentists have a curious status in the books because they are obviously very skilled and useful and well paid but they aren't necessarily in the political structures that confer highest status) so I guess an econowife. But what about an Aunt? They are the only women who are educated.

Handmaid I think I’ve had children and still have periods. And I’m an atheist so I don’t think I’d be allowed to be an econowife as I’m guessing my non-religious wedding wouldn’t count.

Oh shit. I was banking on econowife but also Catholic so colonies for me too. Save me a seat on the coach Elspeth.

@VashtaNerada

Handmaid I think I’ve had children and still have periods. And I’m an atheist so I don’t think I’d be allowed to be an econowife as I’m guessing my non-religious wedding wouldn’t count.

Ah crap I forgot about the religious part...how?!!

I got married in the registry office...so yeah I’ll probably be a handmaid.

Great

If I'm still considered fertile probably a Handmaid, but if they looked on my medical record and saw two abortions, it'd probably be the wall for me. Oh and I had a brief relationship with a woman. So gender traitor AND murderer.... yup, I'd be swinging.

Econowife I reckon. Married to DH in a C of E high church, he works in finance, we have one child.

Handmaid. I'm a 29 year old single mother.

I'll rather be a Martha than a jezebel or handmaid.
I've had two children, still fertile, married in a church so if I kept my head down i'd be an econowife.
Although I would have tried to flee at the begining so maybe a handmaid for punishment.

I'd end up in the colonies. Fertile days are over, Cooking skills are dodgy. Although I'm a nurse, do they still need nurses?

Handmaid. I have 2 DC, am divorced and live with DP, who is not my husband (thanks Coronavirus! ).

I’d be off to the wall PDQ though.

I'm divorced so a handmaid as I'm still ovulating though I am 40 this year.
Did handmaids get retired into Marthahood or sent to the colonies when they stopped producing babies?

I thought Econowife but registry office marriage so probaby handmaid.

Never had a Christian wedding (not surprising given that we’re not Christians) so I suppose I’d be a hand maid.

Which are the ones that shag loads. I am horny like a duracell bunny so whoever gets to do that, I'd be them

CodenameVillanelle From what I remember from the book if a handmaid produces a baby then she doesn't get sent to the colonies.

FedUpAtHomeTroels I reckon if you pledged total allegiance to Gilead, repeated 'blessed be the fruit' all the time you could avoid the colonies by being a nurse. Although you'd have to care for people who'd had various body parts chopped off.

Does anyone know if there is going to be a season 4?

I’ll be a Wife. DH is a senior officer in the armed forces.