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US Election 2024: Real Mimics Role as Women Wear Handmaid's Tale Capes to Vote in Voting Booths, But Why?

Nov 06, 2024 1:49 PM IST

Is the United States of America turning into the real life of Handmaid's Tale? A certain silent demonstration certainly believes so

Rarely has there been a year in which the US elections did not leave people glued to their screens and biting their nails, not just in the US but around the world. This year, the stakes appear to be multiplying as both majority parties – the Democrats and the Republicans – face off in the race for the White House. Donald Trump's possible return to power has always hung like the sword of Damocles on the seemingly very turbulent future of the states. However, Joe Biden's forgoing a possible second term as POTUS was understandably, but shockingly, quite a plot twist. His vice president, Kamala Harris, came in to ensure that Democrats remained in power. But the current balance of electoral seats suggests that it will be easier for Trump than for Kamala to get into the White House.

Women show up at voting booths in capes and hoods, referencing “The Handmaid's Tale: But Why?” (Photo: X/mluckovichajc)

At a time in world politics where the words of Charles Dickens, “They were the best of times, they were the worst of times,” ring truer than ever, you can trust that your feeds will be graced with very cleverly curated flashes of social messaging. Here is this little socially informed revival TV series The Handmaid's Tale seems to do. According to reports and some images, some women were seen wearing the unmissable red cape and white bonnet – a staple of the series – as they made their way to voting booths to cast their votes.

Why do you ask? The Internet is decoding this as a cleverly designed move to express what Trump's rise to power could mean for American women in the future. For context: The Handmaid's Talebased on Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel of the same name, is a dystopian television series in which women's fertility is used as cages. This is now reflected in a possible coup by the Republicans in the White House. The party with Trump as its face has long advocated for “traditional” families, which has sometimes resulted in a serious setback for abortion rights.

Going back to the silent demonstration of women in capes at the stands, abortion could just be one issue. It may well be seen as a larger dialogue about the once covert, now more overt violation of women's agency.

In the same breath, there are some on the internet who have expressed that the correlation that these social media messages have made is extremely uncomfortable considering that there are many women around the world whose reality is the Premise of “ The Handmaid's Tale. “American Women: You are not enslaved. You are not oppressed. “Maybe take five minutes to learn about the plight of Afghan women before you claim to be a 'handmaid,'” read an excerpt from one comment.

As for the results, Trump is expected to have won his second term as POTUS, with the Democrats' victory in Pennsylvania surpassing the landmark 270 Republican vote mark.

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