Explanation of artefact:
In The Handmaid's Tale, Gilead is a theocratic society. The government uses the bible to justify their brutal and oppressive actions. However, they manipulate and change verses from the bible to suit their own wants. "Blessed be the silent" is not one of the beatitudes from the bible. Silence is enforced by Gilead's institutional misogyny. Women, especially handmaid's, are taught to be silent and reserved. Already, in chapter 1 of the novel, it shows that handmaids have learnt to speak in silence. "We learned to whisper almost without sound. In the semi-darkness we could stretch out our arms, when the Aunts weren’t looking, and touch each other’s hands across space. We learned to lip-read, our heads flat on the beds, turned sideways, watching each other’s mouths. In this way we exchanged names, from bed to bed".
It is obvious that women are forced to be silent and are oppressed. Thus, this poster shows a handmaid with a zip for a mouth. "Zip it" is commonly used to tell people to stop talking, which is exactly what Gilead is doing to women.

I had to read up a lot and researched about gender inequality and feminism, especially during and before the time Atwood wrote the novel, which was in the 20th century. 
After learning much about it through research,  I better understand Atwood's use of this theme and issue in her novel. Completing this task made me realise the depth of knowledge Atwood had and used in the novel, that she managed to target so many themes besides feminism in her novel without making her ideas convoluted.