Why Was The Handmaid’s Tale Banned in the US?

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Margaret Atwood’s novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which enjoys widespread critical praise and remains culturally significant, has encountered numerous bans within the United States. The book’s central themes – oppression, religious fundamentalism, and male dominance – ironically echo the very suppression it seeks to caution against.

Here’s why officials banned it and what the series will do next.

Why The Handmaid’s Tale book was banned

In the dystopian setting of Gilead, a totalitarian state with strong religious influences, we follow Offred, a woman who has lost her personal identity and is compelled to serve as a handmaid for reproduction purposes. The novel serves as a critique of authoritarianism, feminist issues, and religious control. Due to its powerful themes, it often becomes the subject of book bans.

Ever since it was published, this particular book has faced criticism and restrictions in numerous U.S. schools and libraries due to various reasons such as explicit language, adult content, perceived anti-religious undertones, and representation of LGBTQ+ characters. In 2022, some states like Texas decided to withdraw the book following laws that limit materials discussing race, gender identity, or sexuality.

In the year 2025, Idaho passed HB 710, a law meant to restrict underage individuals’ access to materials deemed “inappropriate for minors.” This legislation resulted in certain books being taken off school and public library shelves, such as The Handmaid’s Tale.

This initiated a country-wide discussion about censorship, freedom of expression, and educational opportunities. To counteract book bannings symbolically, Margaret Atwood teamed up with Penguin Random House to create a fireproof, indestructible version of the novel.

In this rephrasing, I’ve attempted to simplify the original statement while maintaining its meaning and flow. The focus is on making it more accessible and engaging for the reader.

Is The Handmaid’s Tale series banned and canceled?

Although the book has encountered censorship issues, The Handmaid’s Tale series is still accessible on Hulu, neither banned nor canceled. The television adaptation broadens the novel’s themes to include LGBTQ+ representation and racial injustice, topics that have also stirred controversy. Unlike schools and libraries, streaming platforms have not been subjected to the same restrictions regarding access.

In April 2025, the sixth and last season of the show debuted, with its themes of resistance carrying an even greater sense of urgency. Unlike the open-ended finale in the novel, viewers are eager to witness a clear conclusion for the main character, June Osborne.

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2025-04-11 07:10