Art often imitates life and can often peer into the future. Author Margaret Atwood had the future in mind when writing her 1985 dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. The book was adapted for the screen in 1990 by director Volker Schlöndorff and starred Natasha Richardson and Robert Duvall. While the book is descriptive and linear in story, the film provides the visuals for this dark, bleak, parallel universe where women hold little value in society. Atwood is aware that the fictional Republic of Gilead from her book could someday manifest into reality. You wouldn’t believe just how the events of the book relate to the America of today. But to understand the society of Gilead is to understand the mistreatment of women and their reduction to second-class citizens. While the idea of a theocratic, oppressive government is archaic in nature, there are those in the American government who hold the belief that women should submit to the will of men. These same people hold the power to make monumental changes to women’s sexual autonomy and reproductive rights.

The Republic of Gilead is a fascist theocracy with a strict hierarchy system, which is separated by class and gender. Birth rates have dwindled in Gilead due to impotence, and infertility due to pollution and STDs. Naturally, this epidemic is blamed on the women, so her worth has been reduced to how fertile she is. This is women getting the worst part of the deal, as there is a caste system set up among them with the “Handmaid” existing at the very bottom. This particular group of women serves no other purpose except to reproduce offspring for the wealthy men of the Republic. They are not allowed to learn to read, or write, and cannot speak unless spoken to. They are property and robbed of all sense of individuality.

This is some extreme s**t. Almost too extreme to exist, but Margaret Atwood doesn’t think so. As she explains, The Handmaid’s Tale is more than just a novel.

“The book is about what happens when certain casually held attitudes about women are taken to their logical conclusions. I believe as the Victorian novelists did, that a novel isn’t simply a vehicle for private expression, but that it also exists for social examination. I firmly believe this.”

Atwood has a point, but are there people within our government who want to turn it into some dystopian theocracy that requires women to be housewives and baby-makers? The sad truth is these people do exist and it hits close to home. While there has been progress for women in the 20th and 21st century, (beginning with the right to vote, then on to owning property, fighting in the military, gains in reproductive rights, education, and being able to work for decent wages), there is still a long way to go in terms of gender equality. Just look at the current state of politics and the misogyny being displayed by republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his strict conservative Vice Presidential candidate, Mike Pence.

Like the men of Gilead, Donald Trump has been known to make sexist remarks regarding the female body as property from his many quotes regarding women.

“Grabbing women by the p***y. When you’re a star, they let you do it.” This was said in jest in a conversation with another male.

“Fox viewers give low marks to bimbo @MegynKelly will consider other programs!" A comment made regarding television broadcaster Megyn Kelly.

“If Hillary Clinton can’t satisfy her husband, what makes her think she can satisfy America.” Here, Trump has equated democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton’s married life to her ability to lead a country.

“It must be a pretty picture. You dropping to your knee." A female contestant on the show, The Apprentice, knelt down in front of Donald Trump and this was his comment to her. Comment wasn’t aired and I can’t imagine why. *Rolls eyes*

In a Gileadian dystopian hell, not only is this type of behavior acceptable, it is encouraged among men. Women in power shake the very core of society and can't be left to their own devices. Republican Vice President nominee Mike Pence's ideals reinforce this thought process. He honestly believes that a woman's place is in the home. Here is how some of his strict Christian values subjugate women.

“Working mothers stunt the emotional growth of children.” Said in 1997 when asked about working mothers.

“Disney expects us to believe that Mulan’s ingenuity and courage were enough to carry her to military success on an equal basis with her cloddish cohort." Mike Pence argues history and disagrees with Disney. This just blows me away.

“[M]any young men find many young women to be attractive sexually. Many young women find many young men to be attractive sexually. Put them together, in close quarters, for long periods of time, and things will get interesting … Moral of story: women in military, bad idea.” So again, women are being blamed for their abuse and their inclusion in the work force. Fantastic…

“We’ll see Roe v. Wade consigned to the ash heap of history where it belongs." Pence is against a woman’s right to choose over her reproductive rights. He would see that Roe v. Wade, a landmark Supreme Court decision on abortion, would be overturned. Once again, a man would be in charge of the autonomy of women.

These ideas are completely out of this world, but what is so scary is that these politicians aren't alone in their thinking. Millions of men and women across America think the same way Donald Trump and Mike Pence do. Thus making Margaret Atwood's vision of this dystopian nightmare all the more real and well within reach for our society. In Gilead, women are brainwashed to believe they are responsible for their plight, how is that any different than modern day victim blaming? Just imagine an America where men like this are in charge, men aren't held accountable for their actions, and women are blamed for everything that goes wrong, and its law. Yikes!

Where do we go from here? There are a lot of questions left hanging in regards to women’s rights and whether those in charge will progress or regress. This is a frightening possibility as the rights of women are dependent upon the decision of a few men. There is an air of impending doom that befalls the near future. Just like The Handmaid’s Tale, the book ends on a cliffhanger where the future of women is left uncertain in a dystopian wasteland. A genius move by Atwood as our current future is uncertain. The question remains, are we nearing a dystopian society? It depends on who is in charge at the moment. With the way things are now things could go either way, and that should scare the hell of out everyone.