Reasons for Challenging/Banning "The Handmaid's Tale"
Sexuality In 2001, "The Handmaid's Tale" was challenged by a group of parents in Dripping Springs, Texas due to its explicit sexual content (The Handmaid's Tale, Wikipedia). The book contains several scenes describing sexual intercourse in graphic detail which might be deemed inappropriate for high school students. It also contains some allusions to pornography, masturbation, adultery, and promiscuity. Parents might feel that exposing their children to such things at a vulnerable age might create a negative effect and distort their views of what is wrong or right. Profanity Vulgar language is used quite openly throughout the story. In 1993, a Chicopee, Massachusetts high school cited profanity as one of its reasons for banning the book (The Handmaid's Tale, Wikipedia). Swearing is discouraged in almost all academic settings especially when young people are involved. Some might feel that allowing this sort of material into a classroom might give students the idea that it is okay to use profanities. Suicide The main character contemplates taking her own life in order to end her suffering and escape from the terrible things she has been forced to endure. In 1998, the book was challenged in a Richland, Washington high school due to the fact that it stresses suicide (The Handmaid's Tale, Wikipedia). The story contains several references to suicide along with descriptive details on a few different ways it could be accomplished. Parents might fear having their children be exposed to this type of information especially those who are already at risk. Violence The book contains some descriptions of violence including group hangings, beatings, and people being physically torn apart. Violence was cited as one of the reasons why the book was challenged in Richland,Washington in 1998 (The Handmaid's Tale, Wikipedia). The gruesome acts of torture in the novel might be considered too graphic for young readers. Anti-Christian Theme In 2006, the book was banned from the Judson, Texas school district after a parent complained about its offensive reference to the Christian religion (The Handmaid's Tale, Wikipedia). The novel points to Christian beliefs as the basis for the subjugation of women and violation of human rights in the story. It also uses certain passages from the Bible to justify the idea of forced pregnancy and the ill treatment of women. Some Christians might view this as an attack on their religion. |
Sources:
"The Handmaid's Tale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid%27s_Tale>.