The Handmaid's Tale Vol 3

[CruCru]

Hi all

As the last thread has all but totally filled up, I've started this new one.

Bit shallow - but do you think the Wives are allowed cosmetics? I got the impression that make up is banned but they do all look very polished.

I can't wait to see more about Hannah.
In the book -sorry! - Serena knew where she had been placed and held the knowledge of it over her head. I wonder how they will deal with that.

Oh yes @7Days I had forgotten about that!

I can't stop thinking about this latest episode. On reflection I'm enjoying the back stories as much as the present day action. One of the flashbacks to the cafe where June's credit card is declined really haunts me. I keep thinking this may happen in real
life - it's so plausible isn't it?

Just men, western men, oh my god western men's fertility is decreasing! Whatever will we do?! Sod the women, what about the poor men?!

I think that's missing the point somewhat; it's unlikely that the factors causing the drop in sperm count won't be having other negative effects on humanity, other animals and the natural world.

I feel like I'm seeing world through Handmaids Tale eyes - falling spermicide counts in polluted and intensively farmed West (surely a v good argument against chlorine washed chicken? But that's another thread) and the implications of this gender self determination law change. Also aware today walking round a strange city that I spent a percentage of my thoughts making sure I was safe (Inc ignoring annoying talkative stranger, male). Not on a man's radar....

SomethingOnce, lol, my somewhat sarky remark was aimed at the Daily Mail article - I know that a lot more would be affected by all the toxicity of western life than just western men's fertility...

If only 1 in 100 men ( or even 1,000 ) were fertile, I wonder how that would change society? Would make for an interesting novel...

( not sure if fertile is the right term for men! )

It would make them valuable.
If it were women, it would make them a valuable commodity.

Serena hissed at Fred 'what did you think would happen?' - not because of what she'd done to the handmaid, but because of what Fred did
I also saw this as Selena showing her disapproval of the way handmaids are used. Yes she is desperate for a baby but I don't think she saw how far things would go before the regime was established. Or maybe I'm just finding it hard to see how another woman couldn't have any empathy towards the handmaids situation!

Thank you for the threads which I've been following and really enjoy reading. I record THMT and watch every Monday afternoon !

Has anyone mentioned the music ? Not what's played at the end as the credits roll, but during the show? It is SO deadly sinister and really gives me the creeps!

Yes the scary music is great!

Does anyone know when the next series starts? X

Been lurking and loving these threads!

Slightly off the point, I just received a card from my MIL addressed to Mrs 'DH's name' surname. Old fashioned, I know but it reminded me of how the handmaids have to take the commander's names..... made me feel slightly uncomfortable to say the least!!!!

Does anyone know when the next series starts?

April 2018, though probably a few weeks later here.

Isn't it sad that we hope Janine does not wake up as life for her would be better if she was dead.

How many more women (and indeed children and men) around the world have lives like this?

It's a bit off topic but I think the next series of Top of the Lake starts tonight.

I think Janine will be made an example of, probably up on the Wall

I was pondering today whether they would use Handmaids who had some sort of inherited physical defect (but who were fertile all the same).

I am very short sighted - much worse in my left eye. If my right eye were to be removed (as was done to Janine), and my glasses taken off me, I would not be able to get on very well.

If Janine does end up on the Wall, let's hope she doesn't wake up.

I wondered about stds in gilead.
There's Jezebels, handmaids going to different houses.

At what point is intervention allowed in a delivery? If a mother needs a c-section, are they allowed one for the good of the child? Or is it seen as too much medical intervention above the role of God?

Margaret Atwood is doing some talks, saw one advertised at Southbank centre and one in suffolk. Thought I'd share.

DH and my brother are both watching the series. DH asks me lots of questions and I find it telling how much of my experience of the world passes him by, and he's an intelligent, empathetic and feminist guy, so generally notices a lot, gets angry and upset by the same things as me, but just doesn't have the fear and the vulnerability.

This is a VERY interesting and quite sad (for me) explanation - from a man - of why men treat women (generally) the way that they do, due to this subtle conditioning that's been going on all the time without most of the female population even realising... It really makes you think that it's exactly this attitude that almost allowed Gilead to go as far as they did in their control over women.

fairplayforwomen.com/7-reasons-guys-dont-understand-consent

There's a man commenting on the guardian link who is so clearly a punter it made my skin crawl.