Reading Response: Atwood

Atwood’s The Year of the Flood is a dystopia, so it is always interesting to see what authors do with gender and gender roles in these novels. In this futuristic world, it seems that gender relations have only gotten worse from the present day.

Toby’s experiences working at SecretBurger are horrible and worse off than what goes on currently. Though there is certainly sexual harassment in the workplace, it is possible to report it to the police or file a lawsuit and know that something can be done. She has absolutely no choice, and no one cares if she lives or dies. I wonder if this is because she is a female, making it a gender issue, or if it’s because she is not part of a Compound, and therefore not important.

It was also interesting to note the amount of casual sexist insults that are used by the boys Shackie and Croze, who also persistently bother Amanda, saying she “owes” them sex. Sex seems to be something Amanda knows how to trade.

There is clearly a lot of prostitution going on, although it seems as if the girls are treated better than one can imagine they are being treated today. They wear the body suits to protect them from disease, and aren’t supposed to be harmed.

This world that Atwood portrays, although futuristic, seems to be a dangerous place for women, more so than men. Perhaps a lot of it is supposed to serve as social commentary on the conditions of women now. The sexism is more blatant, the violence more prevalent, and the prostitution more accessible, but it all seems eerily familiar.