In The Handmaid's Tale, a novel about the life in a place called Gilead under a strict regime, Margaret Atwood presents a rather sordid picture of the women's role in the society. Atwood has created this notion by considering the aspects of two time periods, past/present, and predicting the future of the society resulting from her time. Margaret Atwood, the author of The Handmaid's Tale, critiques the feminist movement of her time, as she believes that women are socially irresponsible which would lead to a strict regime that would ensure the importance of the women's role in replenishing populations.
             The importance of women's role in Atwood's time was disregarded due to their reputation in the society. The poor reputation of the women created sterner laws in order to make sure that women's role were respected and persevered. Women in the Gilead society were kept under stiff security and watched at all times by the Aunts and the guards. "There is more then one kind of freedom...Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don't underrate it." Chapter 5, page 24. The quote by an Aunt emphasizes how the women were watched at all times, however limiting their liberty would be for their own advantage and security. Even though Atwood believes that the women's reputation is in jeopardy, the rate of sexual crimes cannot be overlooked either.
             Furthermore, the sexual crime rates in Atwood's time became increasingly frequent that lay emphasis on the irresponsibility of the women and the people in power of the society. As the people in charge and the women of the society did not take the initiative to limit such crimes, the regime to decimated the attractive appearance a woman could exploit. As a result the women in the Gilead society were restricted to wear clothes, which identified their roles so the women were not loo...