The handmaidens tale - could it really happen?

[ReallyFFS0]

Decided to write this after an interesting conversation with a mate.
Do you think that this could actually happen? I'm referring to the TV series as I have not read the books.
Do you think anybody (man or woman) would allow this to happen?
Would politicians?
I can see some frightening parallels, but I'm not sure it would happen, at the same time.

As I think even the most misogynystic and vile men have mothers and daughters they care about and wouldn't want this to happen to and the vast majority of people male or female would stand against it.

Thoughts?
I'm posting it here in feminism, debated with posting it in chat but since it is oppression towards women being discussed I decided this was the most appropriate place.

It could definitely happen.

Materialist I was going to post something about that. I’m in the Middle East and the women here mostly have at least 6 kids. And they’re not necessarily always wanted - they can be passed to other family members to be raised or pretty much ignored to be raised by maids. I will post more later when I have protected myself - I have to be careful what I say.

@LastOneDancing - yep agree. Many women (many more than stats indicate) find that when they leave a man, then they see the true side of him and many men - often ranging from indifference to downright unrelenting, spiteful, vengeful attacks on person, kids, and their well being. Many women can't speak out for fear of harm to themselves and their kids. Do other men or women stand up for them - rarely in both. Divorced women are often looked as as pariahs and threats

brownelephant posted-
"It did already happen. sort of. in Iran and Afganistan."

This ∆∆∆∆

Yes, I can see it happening. The potential TRA/natal female handmaiden example is one I’ve thought of as well. My dh really doesn’t get the TRA stuff. I’ve explained it til I’m blue in the face. But he can’t see the threat. He thinks it’s a bunch of silly men, who are best ignored.

As said above it’s happening all around you everyday.
Men who grope/catcall/watch porn, who would be horrified if another man did that/suggested one of the women in his life did porn as a viable job option. Because it’s HIS Mum, HIS sister, HIS daughter.

They don’t see women as individuals just as what they are in relation to them.

Even the good guys will not challenge rape jokes etc ‘cause it’s just Bob he doesn’t really mean it, stop being so sensitive. The old ‘it’s just banter’.

In other words Shut up and put up.

You only have to spend 5 minutes on the relationships board to see how nasty men can get when their woman starts getting uppity- ie: expecting to be treated as an equal.

And that’s not including real life…

As regards the book as I recall, maybe incorrectly, the daughters of commanders were being bred to be wives. I can’t remember where the new batch of Handmaids were going to come from?

LastOneDancing

Ask your DH to imagine life the other way round i.e. if as a man he woke up one day to having no money and allowed no job would be be quite so blase? And you told him not to worry because you will look after him...

If he can't even imagine it, then it's patriarchy in action. If he can, then he might just get it. But don't hold your breath.

I don’t have a job, my only access to funds is via our joint account. I don’t drive. I don’t have a passport. I am basically a (what are they called?) econowife. The ones in stripes.

Which bit do you think is so unlikely OP? The raping in order to obtain children bit? Plenty of places in the world where that happens.

The only ‘unbelievable’ bit is the scarcity of fertile women IMO. We are so used to controlling against fertility with contraceptives. So used to the idea that women ‘trap’ a man with pregnancy / in order to have babies (in reality this often happens the other way around). There is an oddness in the idea that women’s fertility would be rare and sought after.

I wonder how differently it would pan out if women remained fertile but male fertility nosedived?

Fascinating thread I have just got the book to read

And sorry I don't think fascinating was the right word

GardenGeek
Funnily enough I showed him the article in the DM about #manfriday after my post upthread and I think it’s starting to click! Fab!!

Men are physically stronger than woman, that's why they have dominated. To be fair though, 20 healthy ones in a cage with good genes could ensure the survival of the human race haha. Whilst that's true I know loads of lovely men and wouldn't like that to happen. Most men love their mothers, therefore love woman in turn. They are stronger than me though and it pisses me off

I always have a shiver whenever I hear about cashless society being the future. That makes it very easy to control people (women) through them not having access to their money.

Brexit will mean the loss of valuable rights. On top of that, the Tories have already said they will be repealing the Human Rights Act.
And we are about to go through a massive upheaval and recession with Brexit, a big increase in power for the far right. I can well imagine things rapidly going pear-shaped.

I see brexit as siding with America or siding with Europe. America has more military power