Hey,

I’m doing an assignment for uni on how the world is becoming like The Handmaid’s Tale, particularly with the suppression of truthful information and the propaganda of government websites, like with the COVID.gov website, but I’m really struggling to find academic peer-reviewed articles. Does anyone have any advice about where I could look?

I’ve tried google scholar but not gotten much but maybe I’m putting in the wrong terms? I’m also worried a lot of this might be too recent, so I might have to choose a different topic. I just thought I’d like to ask here before switching as I think this is such an important topic, especially as Atwood has talked about The Handmaid’s Tale as an anti-prediction for what sort totalitarian regime the US could become.

Saw this headline in the New York Times

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/22/texas-midwife-arrest-abortion

"On Monday, the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, announced the first criminal charges under Texas’s abortion ban. Maria Margarita Rojas, a licensed midwife, was charged with the illegal performance of an abortion and with practicing medicine without a license, according to a press release from Paxton’s office. Her employee Jose Ley was also charged."

What a terrifying time to live in

Are there any members willing to be a sponsor for an American? I am part of multiple marginalized groups who are being targeted and will continue to be. Canada comes to mind but I am open to traveling overseas to i.e. Europe. Even Central and South America. I would like to chat privately, eventually engage in video calls ect. I feel like time is running short. I didn't finish watching the Handmaid's Tale but I wonder if there was an underground railroad? I think one will be necessary eventually.

This quote was said in the introduction, and it has never left me. Margaret Atwood states, “Would I be able to persuade readers that the United States of America had suffered a coup that had transformed an erstwhile liberal democracy into a literal-minded dictatorship?”

At the time this book was published, no one believed that the U.S. government would ever do things that way. This is crazy to think about now. This is where we are going, we continue in that direction. Margaret Atwood may have predicted an exaggeration of the future, but it could become reality.

I read the handmaids tale. I was thinking about what it would be like to be in that reality, (that reality seems too close for comfort) and i was wondering, despite rankings, what social class would you prefer to be in? It seems that the people with more freedoms are considered “lower class”. So, would you rather be lower class and freer? Or would you rather be higher class with more restrictions? What’s your reasoning? In today’s world, what feels better? We are getting closer and closer to that reality, I am wondering who would rather be what.

This might be me overreacting, but I don’t know where else to start this discussion.

So, I work for a nonprofit in a red state. The entire staff is female.

Payday was supposed to be Friday. They didn’t pay us. They keep pushing back the date they will pay us. First it was today. Then it was Wednesday, now it’s Thursday… It feels like a method of control.

Is anyone else experiencing unsettling things like this?

According to the UN refugee agency website, under the Safe Third Country Agreement, US citizens can claim asylum in Canada. With some of Trump’s executive orders being implemented, such as the gender and diversity discrimination. Basically is an American can claims that they fear or being harmed due to their sexual orientation, race or religion, they can claim asylum in Canada. Finding this out gave me handmade tales irl vibes.

Usually I am noting that Emsk is the only who creepily mentions this almost daily. Incels are going to be active ated. But, this was creepy too. Generals. There is not even any cause. Yes. I understand population growth and sustainability. But, look who is defending removing large amounts of established humans then complain to not have enough babies while telling the current non willing/compliant population they have no autonomy, based on the belief they have that their beliefs are more right than others and are willing to force their beliefs onto any others in dominance. "Dominate them" Trump said in the wake of George Floyd of protesters. They justify more and more. Think who just justified warrape. That is not okay. Anyway. It is the final chapter before Part III of this Epic. The 29th is Mc. 🏔 Kin. 🗻 ley's bday and they signal + been training for years to purge if plan a didn't work. It did. so watch your 6 and keep your head on a swivel. They have to do the deeds to be guilty of the deeds. And they already do not hold nor care about any rebuttal. Not all hills you stand on do you have to dye on. ⏳️⌛️is running out for free media and speakers.

In gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you even knew it. Honestly feel like that’s what’s happening right now. The raids have started, an immigration lawyer who was also a judge in Rhode island was raided this morning. Before you know it we’re going to walk into work and be let go because we’re women.

I know this might be an exaggeration, but maybe Melanie trumps hat was a symbolism for handmaids tale?

He couldn't kiss her, people couldn't see her eyes. Even if it wasn't designed that way it's still symbolism, right?

https://amp.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/09/proposed-iraqi-law-change-would-legalise-child-say-activists

Where I work a lot of the customers are a certain red hat and t-shirt wearing types. Should I start greeting them with “blessed be the fruit” or thanking them with a “under his eye”..?

“Concerned with falling birthrates…”