Silence is Golden

            The Hand Maids Tale by Margaret Atwood along with the extract Talking Back by Bell Hooks, and Sins of Silence by Mai Kao Thao, deals with a similar theme: women from childhood onwards live in a male dominated world and are trained into silent submission, thereby allowing complete control by their male counterparts.

           

            Speech in itself whether it is verbal or written is a powerful tool. In fact this is coined by the popular phrase, “the pen is mightier than the sword.”  Speeches from history to the present day have inspired nations into war or peace, such as Hitlers’ prolific words that instigated. hatred or Gandhi’s’ words that inspired peace. In fact, it is not just politics where the word is potent, but religions often have their humble beginnings in words that have such prophetic life changing meanings, that millions of followers abandon their way of life for their new belief system. Where would Christianity be without the verbal teachings of Christ or the Bible. But it is interesting to note that while it is evident that speech is such a powerful tool, just how much of history takes into accounts the profound words of women. Very little in fact and barring a few examples men seem to dominate the sphere of using words to move a nation. So why are women so traditionally suppressed into not submitting their thoughts? We need to begin with values and traditions some of which are derived from nature while others are created by mankind. Women are the baby making machines and this aspect is highlighted in the Hand Maids’ Tale. Therefore, women’s role and usefulness is considered to be the nurturer where silence is golden. It was not considered necessary for women to express an opinion as most of their time was spent in the confines of the home. This suits men as a support system for their needs both physical and mental are fulfilled without condition or question. By allowing women to speak, work out of the house, express an opinion or question things, be educated, men are in real danger of losing their comfort zone. This is a risk they are not prepared to take so from early on in childhood women are groomed and trained to be silent. Women submit as they are normally physically weaker species who look at the examples of their mothers and fear the repercussions of rebelling. It is ironical that despite many landmarks improvements and change, still today in modern day society women still face a glass ceiling, and backlashes from being too opinionated. Modern day examples of the Hand Maids Tale exists in the form of the Burka society ruled by the chauvinistic Taliban, who convinces women that control is for their welfare and protection. I wonder how many generations need to pass by until real equality is reached? But that depends on women voicing an opinion and setting their demands. Change is scary and the path to enlightenment is often long and weary.