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Gender plays a significant role throughout the novel, as well as it being an important theme. The gender roles in the society in this time period give insight into the power struggle between Grace and the men she comes in contact with each day. She knows what is expected of her but is willing to challenge that in order to keep herself safe.

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This shows that violence against women is normal at this time and it is being fed by the concept of women as objects rather than people with their own sexual desires.

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Grace is sexually assaulted by prison guards as well as medical doctors in the asylum, and she fights off McDermott when he attempts to rape her.

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This shows that in this era women were deprived of their right to explore their sexuality, which is an important part of a person’s identity

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This shows that to understand women categorically robs them of their dignity and their right to have complicated identities.

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A housekeeper mentions about Mary Whitney that  “There is no sense in crying over spilled milk,” as if Mary herself, covered in blood on the bed, is the milk.

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The guards who always harass Grace when they escort her from the prison to the Governor’s house taunt her with insults like “you’re ripe enough to be picked, why stay on the tree untasted, you’ll just fall off and rot at the foot of it in any case.”

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Mr. Kinnear tells Grace not to sit in the back of the wagon “like a piece of luggage”

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Grace explains to Dr. Jordan that she always locks her door because “Once you are found with a man in your room you are the guilty one, no matter how they get in.”

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Grace reflects on the many different characterizations of her that have appeared in print. She has been described as “an inhuman female demon,” “an innocent victim of a blackguard,” “a good girl with a pliable nature,” and “little better than an idiot".

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“She wishes to be seduced, overwhelmed, taken against her will.”  This is what Jordan has to say about his affair.

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Atwood purposefully shows that there are mostly male forces attempting to strip her possessions from her. Through Dr. Jordan, Atwood shows how the society at this time has taught men to feel entitled to women’s bodies, both on a personal and a professional level.

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At Mrs. Alderman Parkinson’s home, Grace and Mary are only allowed one candle a week; Mary steals candle-ends from the dining room because one candle a week “was less light than she wanted to have.” This shows that not allowing women to own things is a way for the men in the upper class to keep women in a subordinate position