first connection to handmaid's tale

link

Although the events occurring in the book are not dubbed as prostitution, the events in the book and the basis of the sex slave trade have many of the same foundations. In both, the women have little to no say of what happens to their bodies and men have the ultimate control.

In the book, the handmaids are used as vessels to carry children for other families and are not given the option to leave their "compound" so to speak, unless authorized to do so in order to go to the hospital or carry out their duties as a child bearer. In the sex slave trade, the women are transported to and from their sellers and buyers to "preform their duties". The article discusses this issue and how prevalent it still is in today's society, and how it often goes overlooked. The difference between these two things are that typically, to most, the sex slave trade is extremely frowned upon, and is illegal. However, in the book, the handmaids are an accepted part of life that all sorts of people use in order to live a "normal life", and are looked upon gloriously.

In the class discussion the other day, the question was asked of who had it the worst in the situation between The Captain, Serena Joy, and Offred. At first, I answered that Serena Joy for sure had it the worst, and that she had most of my sympathy. While I still stand by my first statement, while reexamining this situation, it occurred to me that Offred is put into a horrible situation, and is treated much like a sex slave. The situations are slightly different, however she has no say in what she has done to her and is living in horrible conditions. While she can think for herself she cannot express her beliefs and cannot carry them through without suffering horrible consequences (which through implication, I think is death). She is treated like an item, not a human being, and her wants are completely ignored by all who have control of her life.