Essay 4 Proposal:

One major theme that stands out to me in Atwood’s writing is women’s bodies being used as political instruments. This is something that many countries in the world are still facing. In “The Handmaid’s Tale” women are good for only one thing, reproduction. They are unable to work jobs, read books, or hold any type of independence for themselves. Although this may sound crazy because in the country we are in women have all the rights men have, it did indeed take a fight to get where we are today. In many countries unfortunately women are still subjected to this type of indecency and cruelty. I would like to learn more about the ways women are treated sub humanly. This text brings about a reality that is sometimes hard to understand unless you are subjected to it. I plan to research other countries and they way the women live in them. My boyfriend’s mother is currently teaching school at an American compound in Saudi Arabia and she tells us stories daily about the cruelty the women are subjected to in that part of the U.S. She is unable to leave the compound before she is fully wrapped; she cannot drive, cannot handle money, and most importantly is unable to gain independence. In a sense the women in this part of the world are much like the Handmaids’ in Atwood’s text. I feel once I gain a better understanding of Saudi Arabia and their feelings towards women I will then be able to better understand where women being used as political instruments primarily comes from. Another primary reason for this subjection is the male’s superiority. I feel as though if a women is more successful then her man then the male may feel undermined and un-successful, and in many cases this is unacceptable, much like in Atwood’s text and as far as I am aware in Saudi Arabia. This link is a little background information on the current gender roles in Saudi Arabia, although it is from wikipedia it bring about many important issues that are prominent in this country currently: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia