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The Handmaid’s Tale is at it again, and by it, we mean White Feminism. Lingering close-ups of June’s snarls have us ranting about all the ways in which this show is an irresponsible tale of fragility and entitlement.

In This Episode

News

• Insurgent Democrats, Many of Them Women, Worry a New Party Policy Will Block Them (NY Times)
• German Circus Uses Holograms Instead Of Live Animals For A Cruelty-Free Magical Experience (Bored Panda)
• New Report Suggests ‘High Likelihood of Human Civilization Coming to an End’ Starting in 2050 (Vice)
• ‘Climate grief’: The growing emotional toll of climate change (NBC News)
• The Good Grief Network – support for climate grief

Joke

Why couldn’t the two little elephants go swimming? (Thank you, Dre!)

Support Food Empowerment Project’s Annual School Supply Drive!

FEP is doing their annual school supply drive and need your help to make sure the children of farm workers get school supplies for this coming school year. Please consider donating if you are at all able, this annual event deeply touches our hearts and makes a direct difference in the lives of the children of the people who pick our food. They are looking for the following supplies: – Backpacks (always in great need; no red or bright blue, no military/camo, no corporate logos/promotions)
– Spiral notebooks (college and wide ruled, 100 sheets)
– Composition books (college & wide ruled, 100 sheets)
– White lined 3-hole filler paper (college & wide-rule, 100-sheet packs)
– Large erasers & pencil caps
– 3-Ring binder (1 inch)
– Highlighters (standard)
– Glue sticks (small)
– Pencil sharpeners
– 2-Pocket folders
– Pencil pouches
– Rulers
– Pencils or mechanical pencils
– Standard ballpoint pens (blue, black)
– Colored markers (regular tip, 10 pack)
– Basic handheld calculators
– Colored pencils (12 pack) They will have drop off locations in the Bay Area starting June 24th through July 8th or you can ship directly to their office now through July 10th: Food Empowerment Project
921 Transport Way, Suite 7
Petaluma, CA 94954

Main Topic

For some silly reason, we’re still watching The Handmaid’s Tale even though we mostly hate it and we’re here today to talk about it. Beyond issues we may have with the execution of the material, our focus is on what we see as an irresponsible fixation on the character of June as a hero in a world where race and transgender identities are ignored. A world where a resistance, formed largely by women of color, is treated as if it is simply waiting to be taken over by a white woman prone to childish impulses and who has yet to execute a single plan or mission successfully (y’all, she’s been IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT so many gd times…). Given that this show is reflective of experiences that have not only happened in real life so many times, but are currently happening today, we cannot bear this shameful ignorance in a show that is so topically important. Though it was obvious through the narrative arc of the show, we have confirmed that Bruce Miller sees this as June’s story, and his quote illustrates everything wrong with this show:

“…Bruce Miller, creator and executive producer of the television series based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel, says he is “not in the business of inventing cruelties”.
“I don’t want the show to be torture to watch. It is entertainment and you want people to be compelled by it. You don’t want it to be horrible medicine,” Miller said.
“I’m not interested in putting the audience through torture. I try to only show the things that we need to see to understand where June is emotionally and mentally,” said Miller. “What I’m trying to do is tell the story of June’s survival and victory and it’s a long, slow slog.”
“We want to show what a hero really looks like – someone who is stubborn. They get knocked down; they get bruised, and they pick themselves up and try again,” Miller said.” The Jakarta Post (article link below)

Resources

• The Handmaid’s Tale: If You Thought You Hated June’s Choices Before, Just Wait (Vanity Fair)
• The Growing Paradox of The Handmaid’s Tale (The Atlantic)
• New season of ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ not meant to be ‘torture to watch’, creator says (The Jakarta Post)