THE OPPRESSION OF WOMEN THROUGH LANGUAGE IN OFFRED’S CHARACTER IN MARGARET ATWOOD’S THE HANDMAID’S TALE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31851/ab58k311Keywords:
Oppression, Violence, Women, Patriarchy, ResistanceAbstract
This study investigates the different forms of oppression experienced by women as portrayed through Offred’s character in The Handmaid's Tale. The research explores how women are constructed as powerless individuals and how oppression becomes normalized within society. The analysis is grounded in Iris Marion Young’s Five Faces of Oppression theory to identify the various dimensions of oppression depicted in the novel. The study employs a descriptive qualitative method using close reading techniques to examine the narrative and dialogues presented in the story. The findings reveal that oppression in the novel operates not only through individual actions but also through institutionalized injustice embedded within the social, religious, and legal systems of Gilead. Women’s bodies are treated as instruments of state reproduction, freedom of expression is restricted, and personal identities are systematically erased. Nevertheless, Offred demonstrates several forms of resistance through her thoughts and storytelling, which function as strategies of survival and self-preservation. Ultimately, the study concludes that the oppression portrayed in the novel is structural and interconnected, reflecting a critical portrayal of patriarchal systems that remains relevant to contemporary social realities.
References
Aboim, S., & Vasconcelos, P. (2022). What does it mean to be a man? Trans masculinities, bodily practices, and reflexive embodiment. Men and Masculinities, 25(1), 43–67. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X211008519
Adlini, M., Yulinda, S., Chotimah, O., & Merliyana, S. J. (2022). Qualitative research method literature study (Vol. 6, Issue 1).
Afifatul, S., & Nim, M. (2024). The struggle of female characters against oppression in Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed [Undergraduate thesis].
Alwan, R. M. (2023). The feminist dystopian themes in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale: A reflection of the social and political issues. Journal of Critical Studies in Language and Literature, 4(5), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.46809/jcsll.v4i5.220
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. In H. Cooper (Ed.), APA handbook of research methods in psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 57–71). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/13620-004Coen-Sanchez, K., Ebenso, B., El-Mowafi, I. M., Berghs, M., Idriss-Wheeler, D., & Yaya, S. (2022). Repercussions of overturning Roe v. Wade for women across systems and beyond borders. Reproductive Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-022-01490-y
Dominilla, A. F., Kuncara, S. D., & Valiantien, N. M. (2020). The oppression towards Black female characters as maid in The Help novel by Kathryn Stockett. Journal of Language and Literature, 4.
Elindawati, R. (2021). Feminist perspective on the case of women as victims of sexual violence in higher education. Al-Wardah: Journal of Women, Gender and Religion Studies, 15(2), 181–193.
Fauzi, A. Z. (2022). Translation techniques used by accounting students in writing abstracts. Philosophica: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, dan Budaya, 5(2), 99. https://doi.org/10.35473/po.v5i2.1878
Felmlee, D., Rodis, P. I., & Zhang, A. (2020). Sexist slurs: Reinforcing feminine stereotypes online. Sex Roles, 83(1–2), 16–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-019-01095-z
Fouani, M., & Grytsenko, T. (2024). Gender equality: A top priority for UNDP in Ukraine. UNDP Ukraine.
Fraser, N. (2021, April 18). Against the environmentalism of the rich [Presentation]. Utrecht Day of Philosophy, Utrecht University.
Gevers, A., Musuya, T., & Bukuluki, P. (2020). Why climate change fuels violence against women. United Nations Development Programme.
Goulart, C. M., Purewal, A., Nakhuda, H., Ampadu, A., Giancola, A., Kortenaar, J. L., & Bassani, D. G. (2021). Tools for measuring gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) indicators in humanitarian settings. Conflict and Health, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00373-6
Gupta, M., Madabushi, J. S., & Gupta, N. (2023). Critical overview of patriarchy, its interferences with psychological development, and risks for mental health. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40216
Hyronimus, D. (2023). Girls’ education in a patriarchal cultural perspective (A study on Lamaholot culture). Khatulistiwa: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Sosial Humaniora, 3(1), 175–186.
Ismail, Z., Lestari, M. P., Rahayu, P., Eleanora, F. N., & Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya. (2020). Gender equality reviewed from a normative and sociological perspective, 26, 154–161.
Kalofonos, I. (2023). Meaning in psychosis: A veteran’s critique of the traumas of racism, sexual violence, and intersectional oppression. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 47(4), 1090–1112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11013-023-09824-6
Katoch, O. R., et al. (2024). Energy poverty and its impacts on health and education: A systematic review. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 18(2), 411–431.
Kaur, M., & Khanna, D. (2023). Feminist dystopias: Analyzing gender and power in Margaret Atwood’s selected works. Journal of Namibian Studies: History Politics Culture, 35.
Koten, I. S., & Mulyani, S. (2025). Five faces of Lamaholot women’s oppression in three short stories of Silvester Petara Hurit (Iris Marion Young perspective). Suar Betang, 20(1), 55–69. https://doi.org/10.26499/surbet.v20i1.30635
Kristami, O., Surya, S., & Lubis, I. S. (2022). Oppression on woman as reflected in Lakshmi’s character of Sold novel by Patricia McCormick. Journal of Language and Literature, 6.
Kuteesa, K. N., Akpuokwe, C. U., & Udeh, C. A. (2024). Gender equity in education: Addressing challenges and promoting opportunities for social empowerment.
Loot, R. C. (2020). When the price of water is sexual assault.
McKeown, M. (2021). Structural injustice. Philosophy Compass, 16(7). https://doi.org/10.1111/phc3.12757
Modise, J. M., & Modise, P. S. (2023). The fundamental objective of gender-based violence is to address the root causes and motivators of violence against women and girls. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8(5).
Muthukumar, J. (2023). Power of the powerless-fighting the good fight against double oppression. SW+PS Social Justice, 6.
Nafia, H., & Dewi, T. U. (2022). Feminist literary criticism on the counterfeminist image of women in the novelization of the film Yuni. Belajar Bahasa: Jurnal Ilmiah Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, 7(2), 183–196. https://doi.org/10.32528/bb.v7i2.57
Nartey, M. (2021). A feminist critical discourse analysis of Ghanaian feminist blogs. Feminist Media Studies, 21(4), 657–672. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2020.1837910Nuraeni, Y., & Suryono, I. L. (2021). Analysis of gender equality in the employment sector in Indonesia. Nakhoda: Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.35967/njip.v20i1.134Pasaribu, R. E. (2021). Feminist knowledge, self-empowerment and sisterhood, and safe space: How the “Perempuan Berkisah” community group empowers Indonesian women in the pandemic era. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 22(12). https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol22/iss12/10Piromalli, E. (2025). A systemic, structural perspective on energy poverty through Iris M. Young’s “Five Faces of Oppression.” https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15644202Pratama, A., Pauji, R., & Rachmawati, K. (2024). Oppression of women in the novel against the slavery system by Nawal El Saadawi. Jurnal Edukasi Khatulistiwa Pembelajaran Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.26418/ekha.v2i2.3302
Pratiwi, D. G. (2024). An in-depth study of forms of gender discrimination in the novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. 2(3), 184–189.
Rinaldi, R., & Lumbaa, Y. (2024). Kesetaraan gender: Perjuangan perempuan dalam menghadapi diskriminasi.
Rosa, R., & Clavero, S. (2022). Gender equality in higher education and research. Journal of Gender Studies, 31(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2022.2007446
Rosa, R., Drew, E., & Canavan, S. (2020). An overview of gender inequality in EU universities.
Sari, G. R., & Ismail, E. (2021). The polemic of mainstreaming gender equality in Indonesia. Jurnal Penelitian Ilmu Ushuluddin, 1(2), 51–58. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpiu.12205
Shabira, F. (2022). Representation of the feminist movement on Instagram accounts @perempuanfeminis. Jurnal Ilmiah LISKI (Lingkar Studi Komunikasi), 8(2).
Sinaga, D. W. (2026). A feminist literary criticism analysis of the short story “I Am a Woman” by Muh Fiqrawal Rahman. Jurnal Ilmiah Nusantara (JINU), 3(2), 484–492. https://doi.org/10.61722/jinu.v3i2.8758
Smith, S. G., & Sinkford, J. C. (2022). Gender equality in the 21st century: Overcoming barriers to women’s leadership in global health. Journal of Dental Education, 86(9), 1144–1173. https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13059
Sokowati, M. E. (2021). Strengthening gender-based journalism for Muhammadiyah student association branch leadership cadres AR Fakhruddin. Jurnal Warta LPM, 24(3), 436–446.
Sosa, L. (2021). Beyond gender equality? Anti-gender campaigns and the erosion of human rights and democracy. Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, 39(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/0924051921996697
Taum, Y. Y. (2023). Literature, critical theories, and their responses to global problems. Sanata Dharma University Press.
Thohiriyah. (2020). Promoting patriarchal politics. Jurnal Kajian Sastra, 17(1).
Tongue, Z. (2022). Reproductive justice: The final (feminist) frontier. Law, Technology and Humans, 4(2), 95–108. https://doi.org/10.5204/lthj.2468
UN Women. (2023). Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023. United Nations.
Vergo, M., Basri, V., Wanggai, F. F. I., D’, Y. M., & Kara, K. (2023). The struggle of Bride and Sweetness against oppression in Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child. Journal of Language and Literature.
Yavorska, V., Rega, I., Kiselyova, E., Goncharova, A., & Nehoda, Y. (2024). Contemporary issues in upholding women’s rights and gender equality. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(Special Issue). https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024spe050
You, Y. (2021). Gender, feminism and structural functionalism. Nusamedia.
Young, I. M. (1990). Justice and the politics of difference. Princeton University Press.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Yulianci Yulianci, Thohiriyah Thohiriyah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright Notice
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
In order to assure the highest standards for published articles, a peer review policy is applied. In pursue of the compliance with academic standards, all parties involved in the publishing process (the authors, the editors and the editorial board and the reviewers) agree to meet the responsibilities stated below in accordance to the Journal publication ethics and malpractice statement.
Duties of Authors:
- The author(s) warrant that the submitted article is an original work, which has not been previously published, and that they have obtained an agreement from any co-author(s) prior to the manuscript’s submission;
- The author(s) should not submit articles describing essentially the same research to more than one journal;
- The authors(s) make certain that the manuscript meets the terms of the Manuscript Submission Guideline regarding appropriate academic citation and that no copyright infringement occurs;
- The authors(s) should inform the editors about any conflict of interests and report any errors they subsequently, discover in their manuscript.
Duties of Editors and the Editorial Board:
- The editors, together with the editorial board, are responsible for deciding upon the publication or rejection of the submitted manuscripts based only on their originality, significance, and relevance to the domains of the journal;
- The editors evaluate the manuscripts compliance with academic criteria, the domains of the journal and the guidelines;
- The editors must at all times respect the confidentiality of any information pertaining to the submitted manuscripts;
- The editors assign the review of each manuscript to two reviewers chosen according to their domains of expertise. The editors must take into account any conflict of interest reported by the authors and the reviewers.
- The editors must ensure that the comments and recommendations of the reviewers are sent to the author(s) in due time and that the manuscripts are returned to the editors, who take the final decision to publish them or not.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a pre-publication manuscript (but not the Publisher final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (see The Effect of Open Access). Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
