Could The Handmaid’s Tale Happen? Modern Threats to Women’s Rights

With elections around the corner, a question looms: could our world become something like The Handmaid’s Tale, the unsettling society in Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel?

In that story, women lose nearly every right—freedom, autonomy, and even control over their bodies.

It’s fiction, yes, but the book’s themes hit close to home as certain real-world trends seem to echo its warnings.

So, let’s break down what makes Atwood’s Gilead tick and explore the real-life issues that make people wonder if we’re inching closer to such a society.

Gilead: A Nightmare Vision of Control

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale paints a picture of Gilead—a society born out of a crisis and ruled by a harsh religious dictatorship.

Women have no rights in this world; they can’t work, own property, or even read. Their sole purpose is reproduction, and those who can bear children are forced to do so for the ruling class.

Atwood has said that every twisted element in Gilead has a real-world precedent, meaning every law, restriction, and punishment is something that’s happened somewhere, sometime in history.

Her book is a warning—a “what if?” scenario about where we might end up if we’re not careful. But how close are we to seeing some of these warnings come to life?

The Erosion of Reproductive Rights

One of the most significant changes in women’s rights in recent years came when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. This decision removed the constitutional right to abortion that had been in place since 1973. Since then, many states have rushed to restrict or outright ban abortions, limiting access to healthcare and making it harder for women to make personal choices about their bodies.

In Gilead, women’s bodies are controlled entirely by the state. In the real world, rolling back rights to choose feels to many like a dangerous step in that direction. It raises questions about what other freedoms might be challenged next and what it means for a society when women lose autonomy over such a fundamental part of their lives.

The Rise of Authoritarianism: A Real-Life Parallel

Around the world, authoritarianism is on the rise. Some leaders have started consolidating power, ignoring democratic norms, and openly silencing those who disagree with them. These tactics are no longer confined to dictatorships; increasingly, democracies are experiencing these authoritarian trends as well.

When political figures attack democracy and rally around a vision of “traditional” values, they’re echoing the tactics of Gilead’s leaders, who used fear and strict social control to stay in power.

In the U.S., projects like Project 2025 and political rhetoric that pushes for a return to strict “traditional” gender roles give some people a lot of pause. Such ideas gain power when citizens buy into the notion that order and “moral values” are more important than personal freedoms. It’s this kind of mindset that helps authoritarian regimes thrive

Religious Fundamentalism and Gender Control

Religious beliefs are deeply personal, but when religious fundamentalism shapes government policy, it can lead to laws that restrict individual freedoms. In some areas, there’s been a noticeable push toward policies that favor a very traditional, often patriarchal, view of gender roles. Movements like “TradWife” (short for “Traditional Wife”), for example, promote a lifestyle where women stick to homemaking and let men take charge. For some, this lifestyle is a choice, but it often feeds into a broader narrative that women’s roles should be limited.

In Gilead, religion is the excuse for stripping women of their rights. While the U.S. is far from this extreme, the idea that religious “values” could start shaping laws in a way that restricts personal freedom is unsettling to many. It’s a slippery slope that could lead to a society where individual autonomy, especially for women, is severely compromised.

Scapegoating and Division: Tools of Control

In The Handmaid’s Tale, Gilead’s leaders hold onto power by blaming “the others”—dissenters, outsiders, and anyone who doesn’t fit their mold. This is a common tactic in real-world politics too. By scapegoating marginalized groups, certain leaders distract the public, create division, and rally support for policies that would otherwise face opposition.

Divisive politics create the perfect breeding ground for restrictive laws and authoritarian ideals. When people are encouraged to fear each other, they’re more likely to accept strict rules in the name of “protection.” This is a troubling parallel to Gilead and shows how social division can lead to repression.

Could Gilead Happen?

Atwood intended Gilead as a warning, not a prediction, but the fact that her fictional world is rooted in real events means it’s not entirely implausible. With reproductive rights under attack, rising authoritarianism, religious influence over the law, and social scapegoating, many of Gilead’s elements feel uncomfortably relevant. So while it may be unlikely, it’s a possibility that encourages us to stay vigilant.

Standing Up for Rights: How We Can Resist

If Atwood’s book teaches us anything, it’s that awareness is the first step in resisting oppressive trends. Knowing the warning signs helps us stand up for our rights and support leaders and policies that uphold freedom and equality. Change happens when people engage, advocate, and amplify diverse voices. The message is clear: freedom is worth fighting for.

On Wednesdays, and every other weekday, we must smash the patriarchy—because the stakes are too high to ignore. Gilead serves as a stark reminder of what happens when freedom is forfeited. Now, more than ever, we must ensure that Atwood’s fictional nightmare does not become our reality.