7 nightmares of "The Handmaid's Tale", among which we live

"My name is Fredova. I had a different name, but now it is banned. Now much taboo. " In this monologue begins the first season of "The Handmaid's Tale" rediscover viewer written back in 1985 eponymous novel by Margaret Atwood. Today kicked off its third season.

the series takes place in a totalitarian theocratic society. At first the world for unknown reasons covers a wave of mass infertility. And after a sudden military coup came to power a radical religious group "Sons of Jacob" and set their own rules in the former United States, now called Gilead in honor of the historic area of ​​ancient Israel.

Under the new regime women actually become slaves: they are not allowed to read and write, go to work, free to pursue sex life. Highlights caste servants - women are able to conceive and bear a child. They do not even have the right to his own name. Their only function - to give birth to a high-level elite. To this end them once a month were ritually raped.

will survive the main character played by Elizabeth Moss among this hell. Once her name was June, but under the new regime gave the girl another humiliating name - Fredova (ie "property of Fred").

It may seem that the world was created in the series - pure fiction and the audience at the end of the season there is only relieved exhale and rejoice that nothing like this has not happened and is not It happens. But there it was, after the novel by Margaret Atwood brings to each his interview with newspaper clippings to prove how close to reality book events.

1. normalization of violence

In Gilead physical violence against women is not considered as something unacceptable. For example, aunts (high-ranking women in charge of the training of the maids) are allowed to beat their charges or use the Taser to maintain discipline. Commanders' wives too can brutally treat their maids. Serena Waterford repeatedly beat Joon, even when she was pregnant. Woman hit erring may keepers - guardians of law and order of Gilead.

Domestic violence in Gilead is perceived as the norm even at the level of legislation. Parents have complete the right to punish the child, the husband - wife. When Commander Waterford finds that in the absence of Serena dealt with important matters without permission, he severely punishes his wife in front of shocked June.

For real examples do not need to go far. In February 2017 the Russian Federation adoptedFederal law from 2/7/2017 number 8-FZ "On Amendments to Article 116 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation" law on decriminalization of beatings against relatives of persons. Simply put, domestic violence is no longer considered a crime. But just in caseAmended article 116 of the Criminal CodeIf it was committed for the first time and did not cause serious damage to health.

The new law has caused heated debate in Russian society. Some said that decriminalization will lead to even greater impunity and multiply the number of victims of domestic violence. Others have argued that we can not interfere in family affairs. For example, even before the adoption of the controversial amendments to the ROC declaredPatriarchal Commission for the family is concerned with the adoption of the new wording of Article 116 of the Criminal CodeThat "love the use of physical punishment" of children - the right of parents, "established by God himself."

2. Total control over reproductive rights

children stand at the first place Gilead in the list of priorities. Therefore, the ability to give birth, women are under scrutiny of the state. These poor girls are deprived of one of the basic human rights - to freely dispose of his body. They deal only with those that are trying to bear and give birth to a child.

And to be a mother in the full sense of the word can not be: the child after the birth of consuming, and the servant is sent to the next family.

Outside of "The Handmaid's Tale" women are still fighting for their reproductive rights. It is no secret that many religions still condemn contraception. And even among the most advanced countries, there are those where abortion is illegal in part or completely. For example, in Poland there are stillNot a sin and a crime: as Ireland won the battle for abortion, and Poland - no some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. And in Ireland allowedIreland finally allowed abortion. Why only now? termination of pregnancy only in 2018.

As noted by Margaret Atwood itself, the plot of the novel - an allusion to the policy of increasing fertility in Romania, which was held in 1966Ceausescu forced Romanian women to give birth President Nicolae Ceausescu. And it's not limited to just the prohibition of abortion. Strict taboos imposed even on contraception. Embryos were declared the property of society, and women were forced to undergo forced pregnancy test. All those who could not or did not want to conceive a child, had to pay a "tax on abstinence."

It may seem that such a savage thing of the past. But not so long ago, several American states, including Alabama and Missouri, tookAlabama governor signs nation's most restrictive anti-abortion bill into law Act almost total ban on abortion. On termination of pregnancy can not even count the victims of rape and incest. Permits will be issued only in case of a threat to the woman's health or life of the child.

The public reaction was swift. Dressed in a white cap and a red mantle resident of Alabama cameWhy the 'Handmaid's Tale' Costume Is the New Protest Attire for Women the streets. Wearing uniforms galaadovskih maids, they were trying to convey to legislators a simple idea: the woman herself can control their own bodies. And the state certainly does not make this choice for her.

Although the Russian abortion is allowed, the overall situation is farNot a sin and a crime: whether to wait for a complete ban on abortion in Russia? from ideal. Despite the fact that abortion is officially included in the OMCMany civil society organizations are a loopholeFederal law from 21.11.2011 N 323-FZ (ed. from 06.03.2019) "On the basis of public health protection in the Russian Federation" Article 70. Attending doctor in-law, according to which the doctor may refuse to perform an abortion, if it does not threaten the patient's life. Because in our country thereMommy, I'm torn leg. As doctors, church and Vladimir Yakunin fund fighting abortion. Reportage "Medusa" entire regions, where women are not free to have an abortion. And it's 100% legal.

3. Public executions of Dissent

In the brave new world of Gilead, any person may be tortured or executed. The reason becomes everything: treason, attempt to escape, political opinion or "wrong" sexual orientation. "Criminals" are executed in public, often by hanging or stoning.

An example of such a brutal policy can serve as aThe heart of the executioner. The dictator Marcos tortured and robbed, while his wife kept her millions on toilet paper military-police regime of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines. Dictator in one fell swoop dissolved parliament, abolished the constitution, took control of the media. All dissenters executed, and the few surviving dissidents were tortured, raped and beaten.

4. military coup

In the series, Commander-traditionalists seized power through a military coup. And intentions were the best: they believed that they were saving mired in the sins of America. "The sons of Jacob", among which is one of the key characters in the history of Waterford commander, organized a series of bombings, killing the president and overthrow the Congress.

All this is very reminiscent of the Islamic Revolution"Death to the Shah!" 40 years ago there was the Islamic revolution in Iran in Iran in the late 70s. After it in the country, much has changed, and the wearing of the hijab for women has become a must. There were those who tried to resist, but to change nothing has been impossible.

5. Forcibly transferring children to other families

The system underlying the Gilead - to take away the child of a woman, and to give the education in someone else's family - seems wild and obnoxious. But the real historical facts sometimes frighten worse fiction.

In 1976, authorities seized in ArgentinaIn Brief: The 1976-1983 Dictatorship in Argentina military group. For the regime, thousands of young children kidnapped from their families. Many of the stolen died. Part kids tortured. Others were brought up away from their parents.

It is known that even pregnant women were abducted. After delivery, mothers were killed terrible way: put in the plane, took off all his clothes, made lethal injection and thrown overboard alive. And they are adopting a high-ranking military children.

6. Monstrous camps for political prisoners

The worst fate that could await in Gilead, - the status of "nezhenschiny" and a ticket to one end of the radiation to infected colonies. The link sent women to the wrong political opinions (feminists), Wrong orientation (lesbian, or as they are called, "gender traitor"), or simply unable to work because of their age. Typically, prisoners die within a few years from radiation, disease and unbearable toil.

In the second season of the former maid Emily and Janine managed to avoid indefinite detention in the colonies. After the terrorist attack, arranged by members of the resistance, killing many maids, and Gilead decided that in the circumstances, can not throw a woman's fertility. Therefore, the heroines have removed the status' nezhenschin "and returned to the commanders of the family.

A striking example of historical similar repressive system can be called"Prison for mothers." What happened in the most horrible camps of the Gulag Gulag. Labor of prisoners in the Soviet Union was seen as an economic resource. Moreover, a significant portion of prisoners came to the camp on fabricated charges absurd. Sometimes it was enough to simply have the wrong origin.

7. clitoridectomy

One of the central characters of the series, Emily, has received the name of the new regime Glenova - a very educated woman. In the past, she was a professor at the University of Cytology. Freedom-loving hero from the very beginning was not going to submit to the regime and secretly was listed as part of the resistance. But it uncovered and found out that Emily's lesbian. Woman punished horribly - the clitoris removed. But retained reproductive function.

Mutilation of female genital organs - is not uncommon and is still practicedFemale genital mutilation (FGM) frequently asked questions in many African and Asian countries, the Middle East and North Caucasus (mainly in DagestanMutilation in the republics of the North Caucasus: strategies to overcome).

The purpose of this barbaric procedure - to make a girl 'cleaner' in terms of morality and religion. After crippled woman can not get sexual pleasure, is therefore correct her husband.

Of course, in reality, the indications for this operation is not and can not. Removal of the clitoris anyone has not made clearer or better. In contrast, female genital mutilation causes serious health problems. Not to mention the fact that this is just torture - a painful, brutal, absolutely senseless and degrading.

And what you see the analogy? Tell us in the comments.