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"Don't you think?"
"Don't gawk"
"Don't lose your nerve"

On page 235 there is a lot of repetition and controlling words: The repetition of the word "Don't" is showing once again the power imbalance and inequality between genders as the commands tries to impose his opinions and thoughts onto offred to remain in control

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The Commander tells Offred that the men are high-ranking officials and foreign businessmen, and the women are some former prostitutes and some well-educated women who chose this life. He flirtily asks Offred if she’d prefer this, and she flirts back. He encourages Offred to have a drink, and kisses her hand.

This shows how gender hierarchy   was still in place even before the society in Gilead was constructed. The power dynamic between the two genders can be easily seen according to the jobs that the commander mentions.

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Quote: “The others?” he says. “Well, we have quite a collection. That one there, the one in green, she’s a sociologist. Or was. That one was a lawyer, that one was in business, an executive position; some sort of fast-food chain or maybe it was hotels. I’m told you can have quite a good conversation with her if all you feel like is talking. They prefer it here, too.”

These highly educated, professional women in this environment is very demeaning and shows the oppression of women by the regime of Gilead. It is demeaning as it almost seems as if this is a zoo and all the women are in the cages, for the men to pick and gawk at.

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Chapter 37 at the 'club'
"they are like oversized children, dressed up in togs they've rummaged from trunks" <imagery>
The women, no matter what their previous careers entailed, are no longer taken seriously.
They are made to mimic their old selves for the pleasure of men, who are their patrons.
It is a portrayal of a more casual form of the subjugation of women.

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Women being treated as properties of men

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Women being treated as properties of men

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"what if someone stops me?"
"Just show them your tag," he says. "It'll be all right. They'll know you're taken."

This highlights how women are treated as just properties of men, that women are tagged and marked, undermining the value and identity of women.

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Gender Roles/ Objectification and subjugation of women

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Gender Roles/ Objectification and subjugation of women

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Chapter 36 we see the commander

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Double standard. Also explores the theme of gender disparities. In this society, women are essentially told not to indulge in their sexual desires (through lessons with the aunts) and both genders are forbidden from sexual acts other than that of the ceremony. However we see in this chapter that men of high authority get to indulge in their sexual desires and that the rules are bent for them. The presence of the club and prostitutes and the idea of men needing to indulge in their sexual desires through being sexually involved with multiple women is justified through the idea that 'nature demands' it. Women are just simply there to fulfil the sexual desires of men.

Chapter 37 Page 237

"But everyones human, after all."
..."It means you can't cheat nature," he says. "Nature demands variety, for men. It stands to reason, its part of the procreational strategy. It's natures plan"...
"Women know that instinctively. Why did they buy so many different clothes, in the old days? To trick men into thinking they were several different women. A new one each day."

Objectification of women:
Chapter 37 Page 237

"Well, we have quite a collection." (referring to the prostitutes)

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Expectations of women in Gilead and their portrayal-Anoushka

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Expectations of women in Gilead and their portrayal-Anoushka

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Women are unreasonably reduced to objects of desire, limiting them to roles of childbirth and sexual gratification. This is explored throughout the novel and is specifically highlighted in chapter 37, when Offred gets a taste of the world outside the Commander's home. In the lines " The women on the other hand are tropical, they are dressed in all kinds of bright festive gear...all wear make-up.." this theme is further reiterated to show readers how women and their bodies are subjugated through what they are expected to deliver.

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Sexual domination and objectification of women - Luna

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Sexual domination and objectification of women - Luna

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It links to the Global issue of how gender inequality affects power dynamics which results in the subjugation of women.
“He is showing me off, to them, and they understand that, they are decorous enough, they keep their hands to themselves, but they review my breasts, my legs, as if there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. But also he is showing off to me. He is demonstrating, to me, his mastery of the world.”
The Commander providing Offred with pretty garments and all the gifts from before is just a way to "purchase" her services, for her to act pretty and for him to show her off to the other men. The objectification of women highlights their loss of identity because only their bodies are of importance, they are a hollow vessel that is exhibited for the pleasure of men.

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GI--> Power
Themes--> Irony, control, sexualization, exploitation, women roles in Gilead, contrast of the society

Examples:
Objectification, roles of women and men, power dynamics
p. 237- "we have quite a collection" (referring to the amount of women in the hotel "club", the working girls. The commander says this as if he is proud of "collecting" these women who would rather be used for the sexual fulfilment of men than be in Gilead's strict society

Irony, sexualization
p.237- "But everyone's human after all." (referring to offered mentioning how the "club" should be forbidden. The commander is essentially making an excuse for his potentially illegal behaviour, yet he has a high social status and is expected to abide by the rules set by the Gvmt

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Expectation & portrayal of women in Gilead
Links to the global issue regarding societal pressure and expectations of what a ‘beautiful’ woman physically appears like/should.
Even though the society as a whole has significant changed under the new regime, these expectations and stereotypes clearly haven’t.
Ex: page 235-237, ‘all wear makeup... he is showing me off to them, they keep their hands to themselves but they review my breasts, my legs..’
Diction ‘review’—> in some ways also objectifies her body, review is mostly used and linked with books and magazines, things you glance over and let go once you’re done which also links back to this idea of objectification of women.

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Theme of subjugation of women and how women essentially become the property of men.

“He is showing me off, to them, and they understand that, they are decorous enough, they keep their hands to themselves, but they review my breasts, my legs, as if there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. But also he is showing off to me. He is demonstrating, to me, his mastery of the world''

Also relates to objectification of women and how they are only valued for their body.