Events that inspired The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

1. BACKGROUND TO THE
HANDMAID’S TALE

2. •According to Margaret
Atwood, “…every single
one of the practices
described in [The
Handmaid’s Tale]is drawn
from the historical record.”
•These historical events and
practices include:

3. THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION
• In the 1960s and 70s, Iran was
becoming increasingly westernized.
• In 1979, a revolution resulted in Iran
becoming an Islamic Republic under
the Ayatollah Khomeini.
• Opponents of the new regime and
leaders of the old regime were
executed.
• Newspapers critical of the new regime
were shut down.
• Women’s rights were curtailed and they
were forced to cover themselves in
public.

4. ROMANIAN REPRODUCTIVE POLICIES
• In the mid-20th century, Romania was ruled by a
Communist Dictatorship.
• In order to increase the population, Decree 770 was
enacted in 1966.
• Contraception was forbidden.
• Abortion was forbidden, except in a few
circumstances.
• Pregnancies were strictly monitored.
• This resulted in a “baby boom” – births rose by
almost 100%.
• Unfortunately, many of these babies were unwanted.
• Many women sought illegal abortions.
• Many children ended up in orphanages.

5. FLDS POLYGAMY
• Girls in their early teens are often
married to much older men, some in
their 60s or 70s.
• Teenage boys are often thrown out of
their communities so they can not
compete for the young girls.
• Women are forced to have many
children.
• Older, first wives have power over the
younger wives.
• Women cannot cut their hair or wear
pants.

6. HUMAN TRAFFICKING
• The trade of human beings, often across international borders.
• Trafficked people are held against their will.
• Usually used for forced labour, often sexual in nature. This can include forced
marriage.
• Most sex slaves are women and children.
• 2012: International Labour Organization estimated that 21 million people were
modern day slaves. 4.5 million (22%) of these were being sexually exploited.

7. AIDS
• First came to public attention in the early
1980s.
• Spread through the exchange of bodily fluid,
particularly through unprotected sex.
• Can be spread from a mother to her unborn
child.
• Originally seen as a homosexual disease.
• Great stigma against people with the
disease.

8. RONALD REAGAN
• President of the United States 1981-1989.
• Republican President, very conservative.
• Supported prayer in public schools.
• Mostly silent on AIDS epidemic.
• Opposed to gay rights.
• Accused of being racist and opposed to
civil rights.
• Reagan was seen as turning the United
States to the right during the 1980s.

9. MARGARET THATCHER
• The “Iron Lady”.
• Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1979-1990.
• Conservative Prime Minister.
• Her policies were known as
“Thatcherism”.
• Like Ronald Reagan, Thatcher was
known for being very right-wing.