em names of cosmetic lines, cake mixes, frozen desserts, and even medicinal remedies". The Aunts have some linguistic power to read and to write, and as Offred realises "We are hers to define, we must suffer her adjectives". Gilead relies on the willingness of women to act in their own self-interest and oppress others, maintaining the hierarchical structure of the society. By separating women into distinct sections the Gileadean
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