Science

• Women are reduced down to their biological function, with Gilead completely controlling their bodies behind the facade of wanting to improve the low birth rate
• This creates a feeling of alienation within the handmaids own body
• This extreme scientific practice, of dehumanising the handmaids into vessels to be used for reproduction, is hidden behind Gileads religious values, and the look of normality and the past
• The handmaids also have obligatory visits to the doctor, the masculine embodiment of scientific exploitation
• Offred describes herself as being 'poked' and 'prodded' as if she were a lab rat
• The power dynamic is also shown, with the 'knowledge of [the doctors] power hangs nevertheless in the air as he pats me thigh'
• The quote shows the dynamic between the authoritative male doctor, with the power of scientific knowledge, and the powerless female body
• Gilead also remove all use of machine and other equipment during pregnancy and childbirth, risking the women's safety in favour of a 'natural' birth
• Gilead construct the narrative that past doctors were misusing science by providing this equipment, when it really meant that more mothers and children survived childbirth if the birth had complication
• The men of Gilead make this decision without consulting or hearing any opinions from women, as women in Gilead are only Wives, Handmaids, Marthas or Aunts, not involved in politic
• Gilead construct the narrative of medical equipment/procedures being awful by showing them videos of

  'a pregnant woman, wired up to a machine, electrodes coming out of her in every which way so that she looked like a robot'

  and telling them that they

  'once drugged women, induced labour, cut them open, sew them up, No more, no anaesthetics even.'
• Gilead states that this is 'better for the baby' but also engrained into them Gods words that 'I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children'
• Offred states at one point that 'They could tell once with machines, but that is now outlawed. What would be the point in knowing, anyway? you can't have it taken out. Whatever it is must be carried to term.'