Men Will Be Men in The Handmaid's Tale Perhaps the scariest aspect of Offred's world isn't even her closeness, but her casual attractiveness. The idea that women need rigorous protection from harm is not only espoused by the likes of Rush Limbaugh or Pat Buchanan, but also by women like Andrea Dworkin and Catharine MacKinnon. This protectionist variety of feminism is incorporated into the character of Offred's mother and, to some extent, Aunt Lydia. Offred's mother is as harsh in her censorship of pornography as any James Dobson. By burning works that offend her, she too contributes to the idea that women's safety depends on cracking down on the Bill of Rights. Restricting sexually explicit images once again places the blame for sex crimes on women: the women in the photographs who allegedly pressure men into rape. Where have we heard this before? Who else refuses to hold rapists accountable for their actions, choosing instead to limit the behavior of those they see as catalysts? Aunt Lydia is described as slightly psychotic, but the "freedom from" she offers often seems almost calming. Being free from the fear of rape would be a wonderful thing. Forcing men to act respectfully doesn't seem so bad. We can observe this attitude on our campus, where the student government hosts a "night walk" every few years. During these routes, dangerous areas are demarcated and reported to the Physical Plant and the campus police. In response, bushes and trees next to sidewalks are being demolished to deter possible attackers who may be hiding within them. Multiple halogen lamps are installed. More foot patrol officers cover potential trouble spots. Every year the campus looks less like a university and more like an armed camp, but we accept these ugly alterations to our environment in the name of security. It doesn't seem like such a high price to pay. In a sense, many women already live in a kind of Gilead. They wouldn't dream of going out alone. They feel dissatisfied without children. They don't read (they don't have time). They occupy little more than a servant position in their homes. They are denied access to abortion. They already live with so many restrictions and unreasonable expectations – what's more, if it comes with a safety guarantee?