10 Most Terrifying Laws In ‘A Handmaid’s Tale’
“Gender Treachery” Is Illegal
In Gilead, any form of sexuality outside heterosexual relationships is considered a crime called “gender treachery.” This means LGBTQ+ individuals are not just restricted—they are punished simply for existing. The regime claims that sex should only serve reproduction, leaving no room for identity or personal relationships. Those accused of gender treachery often face brutal consequences, including execution. This law goes beyond controlling behavior; it denies basic human identity and freedom.
Abortion Is Illegal, Even In The Past
One of Gilead’s most disturbing laws is making abortion illegal not just in the present, but also in the past. Women who had abortions before Gilead existed, when it was legal, are still punished. This allows the government to target and control women retroactively, turning past choices into present crimes. Many of these women are forced into becoming handmaids as punishment.
Contraception Is Illegal
Gilead claims to prioritize childbirth, but banning contraception exposes the deeper motive of control rather than care. Women are forced into reproduction without any say over their own bodies. Even using contraception can lead to severe punishment, including death. This law removes all personal choice when it comes to family planning and turns reproduction into a state-controlled duty. It also highlights the hypocrisy within Gilead, where preserving life is used as an excuse while the system itself puts lives at risk.
Men Control Women And Children
In Gilead, all legal authority is given to men, making women and children dependent on male guardians. Whether it’s a father, husband, or another assigned male figure, women have no independent legal standing. This law effectively turns them into property rather than individuals with rights. It simplifies control for the regime, as power is centralized in a single group. The idea that one human can own another is disturbing, yet it is a core part of Gilead’s system.
Second Marriages Are Not Recognized
Gilead only recognizes first marriages as valid, which means anyone who remarried after a divorce is considered to be living in sin. These marriages are dissolved, and the individuals involved are punished. Women are often separated from their partners and reassigned within the system. This law allows the government to interfere directly in personal relationships and family structures. It also gives them another way to control and redistribute people based on their needs.
Women Lose The Right To Vote
In Gilead, stripping women of the right to vote is one of the earliest signs of systemic control, but also one of the most deceptively “mild” restrictions. Voting represents agency, choice, and participation in shaping society—everything Gilead denies women. By removing this right, the regime ensures women have zero influence over governance, laws, or leadership. More disturbingly, the political system itself is deliberately opaque, making participation meaningless even if it were allowed.
Other Religions Are Not Allowed
Gilead presents itself as a religious state, but it only accepts its own strict and distorted version of Christianity. All other religions are banned, and even different branches of Christianity are treated as illegal. Anyone found practicing another faith can face severe punishment, often death. This law removes all religious freedom and forces citizens to conform to a single belief system. It also allows the government to control how religion is interpreted and practiced.
Freedom Of Speech Is Not Allowed
In Gilead, people must constantly watch what they say, as freedom of speech does not exist. Even small acts of expression can lead to punishment or suspicion. This creates a culture of fear where individuals are unable to speak openly, even with those they trust. Conversations are limited, controlled, and often scripted. Over time, this lack of expression strips people of their identity and sense of self.
Not Everyone Is Equal Under The Law
Gilead’s justice system is a chilling illusion of legality, where trials are little more than formalities before predetermined punishments. Citizens are often denied even the most basic right to defend themselves, as seen when Emily is gagged during her own trial. The absence of transparency and due process means that anyone, regardless of status, can be accused, judged, and punished without explanation.
Women Can't Own Property
In Gilead, women are completely denied the right to own property, which strips them of independence and financial security. Without ownership of money, homes, or personal assets, women are entirely dependent on male authority figures. This law ensures that women have no means to escape or build a life outside the system.
