Content & Trigger Warnings for The Handmaid's Tale (1985)
18 content warnings identified for this book.
Quick Summary
Yes, The Handmaid's Tale (1985) contains 18 content warnings : Homophobia / transphobia (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Religious persecution, Stalking / harassment, Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth, Suicide (discussed or ideation), Abortion (depicted or discussed), Forced marriage, Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Genocide / ethnic cleansing, Kidnapping / abduction, Sex trafficking, Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape, Slavery / forced labor, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Religious persecution (severity 5/5), Forced marriage (severity 5/5), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation (severity 4/5), Kidnapping / abduction (severity 4/5), Sex trafficking (severity 4/5), Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations (severity 5/5), Sexual assault / rape (severity 4/5), Slavery / forced labor (severity 5/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you read.
Set up your trigger profile to see which warnings affect you.
| Warning | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | |||
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | 3/5 | Depicted | LGBTQ+ people persecuted and executed in the regime |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | 2/5 | Referenced | Racial persecution referenced as part of the regime |
| Religious persecution | 5/5 | Depicted | The theocratic regime of Gilead persecutes all non-conforming religious groups, executing Catholics, Quakers, and others |
| Stalking / harassment | 3/5 | Depicted | Constant surveillance and monitoring of Handmaids |
| Mental Health & Emotional | |||
| Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth | 3/5 | Depicted | Failed pregnancies and reproductive trauma central to the plot |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | 3/5 | Depicted | Offred contemplates suicide as escape from her situation |
| Other | |||
| Abortion (depicted or discussed) | 2/5 | Referenced | Abortion is referenced as a crime in Gilead, and its prohibition is part of the regime's control over women's bodies |
| Forced marriage | 5/5 | Depicted | Handmaids are forcibly assigned to Commanders in a ritualized system of coerced reproductive servitude |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | 4/5 | Depicted | State-enforced thought control and historical revisionism |
| Genocide / ethnic cleansing | 3/5 | Depicted | The regime systematically exterminates ethnic and religious minorities, sending them to toxic colonies |
| Kidnapping / abduction | 4/5 | Depicted | Children are taken from their mothers and reassigned |
| Sexual Content | |||
| Sex trafficking | 4/5 | Depicted | Women are assigned as reproductive slaves to elite households |
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | 5/5 | Depicted | Systematic sexual coercion as state policy throughout |
| Violence & Physical Harm | |||
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | 3/5 | Depicted | Abusive household dynamics enforced by the state |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | 3/5 | Depicted | Previous Handmaid committed suicide; suicidal thoughts referenced |
| Sexual assault / rape | 4/5 | Depicted | Ritualized rape (the Ceremony) is central to the dystopian system |
| Slavery / forced labor | 5/5 | Depicted | Women are enslaved as Handmaids, Marthas, or sent to labor colonies with no autonomy or rights |
| Torture | 3/5 | Depicted | Public executions and physical punishments depicted |
Identity & Discrimination
The theocratic regime of Gilead persecutes all non-conforming religious groups, executing Catholics, Quakers, and others
Mental Health & Emotional
Failed pregnancies and reproductive trauma central to the plot
Other
Abortion is referenced as a crime in Gilead, and its prohibition is part of the regime's control over women's bodies
Handmaids are forcibly assigned to Commanders in a ritualized system of coerced reproductive servitude
State-enforced thought control and historical revisionism
The regime systematically exterminates ethnic and religious minorities, sending them to toxic colonies
Sexual Content
Systematic sexual coercion as state policy throughout
Violence & Physical Harm
Abusive household dynamics enforced by the state
Previous Handmaid committed suicide; suicidal thoughts referenced
Women are enslaved as Handmaids, Marthas, or sent to labor colonies with no autonomy or rights