Women's Lives / Handmaid's Tale / Learning Profile Discussion Questions
The Handmaid’s Tale: Reflection Points
Many students appreciate having discussion board questions ahead of time so that they can reflect upon them and write out their responses in their course notebooks PRIOR to posting them to the discussion board. This handout is merely for your convenience.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Your postings will only count IF you include at least one direct quotation from the novel, as well as the page number from which it was taken.
Chapters 1 – 15: What are your thoughts about this first reading of the novel? Choose at least 10 of the points below to reflect upon and share with your classmates: The atmosphere and mood of the novel's opening. The colonies and the 'Unwomen' Marys and Marthas Parallels to women in today's media The symbolism of the handmaids' names Women's "need" for protection Parallels in today's society with the novel's death of 'Doctors and Scientists' Offred's travel back in time (in her imagination) Serena Joy Who has rights and liberties in the novel? "Nolite te bastards carborundorum" Reflections on your own freedom(s) Parallels between the kidnapping attempts in the novel and stories in today's news Offred's quote: "I used to think of my body as an instrument of pleasure..." Foundation of biblical scripture in Gilead's rules
Chapters 16 – 30 What are your thoughts about this first reading of the novel? Choose at least 10 of the points below to reflect upon and share with your classmates: · The Ceremony · Anonymity and invisibility of women · “I will greatly multiply they sorrow and they conception. In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children.” · Religion and the culture of childbirth · Backlash · Anti-women’s liberation (ie., references to ‘feminazi’, opponents of the Equal Rights Amendment) · The birthing scene in Chapter 21 · A ‘women’s culture’ (desired by Offred’s mother) · Compare Moira and Janine · Chapter 24: “Context is all.” · Offred coveting Serena Joy’s garden shears · The Soul Scrolls store · Key events leading up to the establishment of the Republic of Gilead · Offred’s memories of her mother’s feminist activism
Chapters 31 – 46: What are your thoughts about this first reading of the novel? Choose at least 10 of the points below to reflect upon and share with your classmates: · Offred’s desire to fight with Luke. · “The problem wasn’t only with the women.” (Commander’s quote) · Old dating and marriage system vs. new system of ‘coupling’ in Gilead · Being ‘erased’ · Freedom FROM as opposed to Freedom TO · Elimination of pornography as a way to end sexual objectification · Choice of being a handmaid, being banished to the colonies, or becoming a prostitute at Jezebel’s · The Underground Femaleroad (parallel with U.S. history) · Complacency by some in pre-Gilead times · Gilead regime decision to no longer announce crimes before execution · The significance of ‘salvaging’ · Restrictions and loss of privileges for women in Gilead compared to rights present-day women in the U.S. seem willing to forfeit. · Are some groups more worthy of rights and liberties than others? Individual liberty or social order…which is more important?
Historical Notes: 1. The historical glance back at Gilead, what preceded it and what was happening in other parts of the world at the same time, has impact of drawing Offred’s experience much closer in time to our own. Is is unsettling and sobering to learn that Gileadean practices were based on real practices currently or formerly in existence: “there was little that was truly original with or indigenous to Gilead; its genius was synthesis.” This serves to warn us that the reality of Gilead is not as far from our own experience as we thought while reading Offred’s story. The function of any futuristic novel is to warn of possible consequences of contemporary trends. List all of the examples of real events that have contributed to the ideas presented in the narrative. 2. Irony figures prominently in this section. Which details of Offred’s account does Professor Pieixoto interpret incorrectly? 3. To what extent are the Historical Notes necessary to the narrative of The Handmaid’s Tale? What do the Historical Notes contribute to the novel? How do they alter how we perceive Offred’s narrative? Novel Wrap Up: 1. If the society pictured in The Handmaid’s Tale had taken seriously our Bill of Rights and Fourth Amendment, would the novel’s scenario have taken place? 2. What does the U.S. Patriot Act have in common with the time right before the coup in Gilead? 3. What are your reactions to this quote by the Center for Democratic Studies, regarding the Promise Keepers organization: “Promise Keepers leaders understand that they can never reach their goal of creating a theocracy unless they reverse the legal and social gains made by women”? 4. Atwood has argued that the potential exists for the form of society pictured in the novel. Do you agree with her? In a minimum of 5 sentences explain why or why not?
Discussion Board Questions for Women's Lives, by Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey Feminism What has been your experience with and/or what is your opinion of feminism? Chapter 1.1 What is meant by the concept of "objectivity"? Is such a thing possible?Compare "point of view," "standpoint," and "bias". What are the problems associated with subjectivity? Give examples from the readings and from your own experience. Chapter 1.2 Judith Lorber argues that gender is socially constructed and that societies socialize women differently in order to keep them subordinate to men. Do you find her arguments convincing? If so, why? If not, why not? Chapter 1.3 What are the characteristics of a social system as identified by Allan Johnson?How does this help you to understand patriarchy or racism? Why does Johnson argue that it is important to think of patriarchy as a system? Do you agree? Can you apply his argument to your own experience? Chapter 1.4 Do you consider yourself generally well-informed? What are your sources of information on current events? Discuss the arguments raised by Onnesha Roychoudhuri concerning news reporting. Do you find them compelling? Why? Why not?
Chapter 2.1 How does Frederica Daly explain the intersection of race and gender for Native American women? What else did you learn from this article? Chapter 2.2 What are advantages and disadvantages of marginality to an individual or social group?(refer to Allison, Elkassabani, Kaye/Kantrowitz, and Waters) Chapter 2.3 Members of oppressed groups often learn negative stereotypes about themselves from those in dominant positions. How can members of such groups develop their own agency, voice, and positive identities? Chapter 2.4 Discuss examples of identity appropriation that use the methods outlined in this chapter.
Chapter 3.1 How do ideas of female beauty function as a form of social control? In what ways do they limit women's choices and lives? Chapter 3.2 Toni Morrison writes that the two girls in her story "knew that Maureen Peal was not the Enemy... The Thing to fear was the Thing that made her beautiful and not us." What did make Maureen Peal beautiful and not them? Chapter 3.3 How do Cheryl Marie Wade and Rosemarie Garland Thompson undermine negative stereotypes of women with disabilities? Chapter 3.4 What particular details and experiences from this chapter's readings were most shocking, telling, or familiar to you?
Chapter 4.1 What does Sandra Cisneros say about a double standard in sexual matters? Have you experienced a double standard between what is expected of girls and boys? Women and men? If so, how do you understand it? Do you accept it? Why? Why not? Chapter 4.2 How does Naomi Wolf define radical heterosexuality? Do you find her discussion compelling? Why? Why not? Chapter 4.3 What are some of the issues faced by transgender people? Think in terms of micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis. Chapter 4.4 Give examples from daily life where heterosexuality is assumed to be the norm - use the readings and your own experience. Think in terms of micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis.
Chapter 5.1 What are the main arguments in Joy Harjo's article on childbirth? What did you learn from this article? Link the contextual information Harjo mentions with that provided by Frederica Daly (Reading 8, Chpt. 2). Chapter 5.2 Why and how is abortion a motherhood issue, according to Judith Arcana? What did you learn from her perspective? Do you find it compelling? Why? Why not? Chapter 5.3 What is meant by the concept of reproductive justice? Is it useful? Why? Why not? Chapter 5.4 How does bell hooks approach the issue of emotional health and wellness for African Americans? What did you learn from her perspective? Do you find it compelling? Why? Why not?
Chapter 6.1 What are the main myths associated with rape? How are they perpetuated? How would your life be different if rape and the threat of rape did not exist? For male students: What do you think and feel when you hear about women being raped or sexually assaulted? Chapter 6.2 How do boys in your community learn to respect women? To disrespect women? Think about all levels of analysis. What are men's roles in ending violence against women? Chapter 6.3 Consider Allan Johnson's article on patriarchy as a system (Reading 2) alongside the perspective of male students at Duke University who oppose violence against women. What did you learn about this issue? Chapter 6.4 What are Lora Jo Foo's conclusions concerning Asian American women's experiences of gender violence? What did you learn from this article? Think in terms of micro, meso, and macro level issues.
Chapter 7.1 How does Paula Ettelbrick characterize the institution of marriage? Do you find her argument convincing? Why? Why not? What is your own view of marriage? Argue your case with reference to the material in this chapter. Think in terms of micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis. Chapter 7.2 Why is there public pressure for welfare mothers to marry while gay and lesbian couples are not allowed to marry in virtually all states? Chapter 7.3 What do you think of Hilary Lips' 'principle of least interest' as applied to power dynamics of personal relationships? As you think about relationships you have experienced or the relationships of people you know, can you see this principle in practice? If so, give examples. Chapter 7.4 What is the significance of Protestant fundamentalist 'pro-family' views in the United States, according to Margaret Lamberts Bendroth? What did you learn from this article? Do you find the author's argument compelling? Why? Why not?
Chapter 8.1 How is the U.S. labor market currently divided along lines of race, class, and gender? Why is this? Use all articles in this chapter. Chapter 8.2 What does Shireen Lee mean by 'the new girls network'? Are you convinced by her arguments? Why? Why not? Chapter 8.3 What did you learn from Ann Crittenden's article on 'the mommy tax'? Were you convinced by her argument? Why? Why not? Calculate the money value of unpaid work done by a woman you know. Chapter 8.4 Review what you have learned about welfare policy from this chapter.
Chapter 9.1 What are the main findings presented by Maria Patricia Fernandez-Kelly? What impressions do you get of her Mexican co-workers? On the basis of her article, what do you think are some strengths and weaknesses of participant observation as a research method? Chapter 9.2 How are people in the United States linked to women workers overseas? What conditions, if any, do women share across boundaries of race, class, and nation? Chapter 9.3 What arguments made by Allan Johnson (Reading 2) in connection with patriarchy as a system help you to understand systems of capitalism and colonialism? Link Johnson's article with material presented in this chapter. Chapter 9.4 What are the responsibilities of people living in a rich country like the United States to address economic problems faced by women from countries of the global South? What can be done? Think in terms of micro, meso, macro, and global levels of analysis and action.
Chapter 10.1 Shannon Murray writes, "I kind of welcomed the incarceration." Why do you think she felt this way? Chapter 10.2 What assumptions underlie government decisions to send Japanese-American families to internment camps during World War II and to jail Arabs, Arab-Americans, South Asian, and Muslim men and women in the name of the 'war on terrorism'? Comment on the similarities and differences as presented by Rita Takahashi and Suad Joseph and Benjamin D'Harlingue. Chapter 10.3 How do patriarchal attitudes and assumptions affect the criminalization of women? What purposes are served by incarcerating women? (Think about race, class, sexuality, and nation, as well as gender, and micro to global levels of analysis). Chapter 10.4 Why is drug use defined as a criminal issue rather than, say, a health issue in the United States? Who defines it this way? How else could it be defined?
Chapter 11.1 Do you think that openly gay men and lesbians should be allowed to serve in the military? Why or why not? What is at stake for military personnel who want to be open about their sexuality and those who oppose them? Chapter 11.2 What is militarism? How is it different from the activities of the military? Chapter 11.3 How does the military as an institution both subvert and support traditional gender roles? Why? Who benefits and who is disadvantaged by this, and how? What contradictions are involved? Chapter 11.4 What are the main arguments against militarism mentioned in this chapter? Do you find them convincing? If so, why? If not, why not?
Chapter 12.1 Discuss the environmental health hazards associated with women's working conditions. Chapter 12.2 According to Mililani Trask, how have colonialization, militarization, and tourism affected Native Hawaiians' ability to sustain themselves? Do you find her arguments convincing? Why? Why not? Chapter 12.3 Why does Patricia Hynes advocate using the 'ecological footprint' to analyze consumption levels? Do you find her arguments convincing? Why? Why not? How can her analysis be applied to women's lives? Chapter 12.4 What are the main environmental concerns on your campus? In your community? What is being done about them?
Chapter 13.1 Christina Leano reflects on the spiritual basis for her commitment to social-change work. What do you most value? What does it lead you to do? Chapter 13.2 What were the goals and accomplishments of the Cambridge Oral History project? Did you learn anything from this project that is applicable in your own life, or to your community? Chapter 13.3 What are the strengths and weaknesses of identity politics? When and under what conditions may identity politics be essential to advance a larger cause? In what way has identity-based politics influenced activism on your campus? Chapter 13.4 Identify a political project or movement you've been drawn to, or involved in. What did you do? How and why did this project draw you in?
The Learning Profile: Reflection Points
Many students appreciate having discussion board questions ahead of time so that they can reflect upon them and write out their responses in their course notebooks PRIOR to posting them to the discussion board. This handout is merely for your convenience.
Week Two: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on the themes from this week's reading and discussion of The Handmaid's Tale. Week Three: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on what you are discovering about your strengths and weaknesses as a learner. Week Four: In a mininum of 3 sentences, reflect on the themes from this week's reading of The Handmaid's Tale. Week Five: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on the relevance (or lack of) of the readings and discussions, so far, to your own life & experiences. Week Six: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on this week's readings in Women's Lives. Week Seven: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on which activities you are enjoying/ struggling with, the most. Week Eight: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on this week's readings in Women's Lives. Week Nine: SPRING BREAK Week Ten: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on any advice you'd give to a new, online student taking this course. Week Eleven: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on this week's readings in Women's Lives. Week Twelve: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on any changes in perception, understanding, opinions you might have undergone as a result of our study of women's issues. Weeks Thirteen - Sixteen: In a minimum of 3 sentences, reflect on your readings in Women's Lives.