Why ‘A Woman’s Place’ is one of the most disturbing episodes of The Handmaid's Tale, explained

The Handmaid's Tale is a brutal, dystopian depiction of a world where a theocratic, oppressive society by the name of Gilead controls and subjugates women. One such disturbing episode is Episode 6 from Season 1 of the show—titled A Woman’s Place.

The show already excelled in portraying key themes related to human freedom, oppression, and female autonomy. However, this particular episode from The Handmaid's Tale stands out in its depiction of complicity, propaganda, and the distortion of feminist ideals.

The episode focuses on what is often termed in theory as systematic interpellation. It is a process in which the individual who is systematically subjugated becomes the instrument of that oppression itself.

At the heart of this episode from The Handmaid's Tale is Serena Joy Waterford and her past. Serena was intricately involved in the creation of Gilead—the very source of the oppression in the world of The Handmaid's Tale.

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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Reader's discretion advised.

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The lead-up to episode 6: What really happened in A Woman's Place?

The Handmaid's Tale did not shy away from depicting disturbing incidents in its very first season—from public executions to forced pregnancies and ritualistic abuse. Yet, Episode 6 stands out in how it reveals the true person that is Serena Joy Waterford, the wife of Commander Waterford.

Along with focusing on Gilead’s terrifying reach and authoritarian control, the episode from The Handmaid's Tale unveils a disturbing international angle. A Mexican trade delegation visits Gilead, raising hopes for potential change. Instead, they come to discuss the potential export of Handmaid services to other nations experiencing a similar decline in fertility rates. What makes this episode chilling is the potential global spread of Gilead’s authoritarian model. It is a system that disregards women’s bodily autonomy and their freedom to speak out against injustice.

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Why A Woman’s Place Disturbs Viewers So Deeply from The Handmaid's Tale

1. A different perspective of the oppressor

Serena Joy is at the center of this disturbing episode. Tracing her past, she was a published author, an activist, and a woman with influence. She used her voice to preach ideas she personally believed in—namely, the idea of domestic feminism that arguably glorified traditional gender roles.

The episode showcases her backstory and does not excuse any of the wrongful actions she commits. But it also gives her villain-like motives a touch of humanized sympathy. We see Serena in moments of professional rejection and personal frustration, in a world not yet dominated by the vested interests of Gilead.

The fact that Serena—a woman who once had power—willingly chooses to become part of a system that strips her of it, shocks viewers. But the viewers also see a Serena who is alone and who sheds tears in isolation. The show forces viewers to reckon with how villains can emerge from very human places. It makes it clear that subjects under subjugation are often interpellated into the very machinery that induces their misery.

2. June's Crushing Psychological Burden

For June, the episode brings a relentless psychological burden. Simultaneously, Gilead works aggressively to obliterate any sense of her personal identity. She is made to smile with an artificial performance, as Serena Joy deems fit for staging her photos, and falsely claims she chose this life and is living like never before.

It is a disturbing chain of untruths that Serena wants June to help fabricate. This coerced charade inflicts mental agony and the psychological burden of losing autonomy over her own reality—her own feelings.

What tops all of it is the painful realization that even international entities are involved in this horror. She grasps that the Mexican ambassador—a woman, no less—is attending their institution not to make a change, but to adapt the dehumanizing practices of Gilead.

3. The looming spectre of a global authoritarian regime:

This episode sets one thing clear: Gilead’s threat is no longer limited to June and the Handmaids’ lives. It is beginning to spread its horrifying hold beyond borders, introducing the chilling possibility of a larger human trafficking racket.

The Mexican delegation had the power to do something. But they did not. Instead, they made a strategic inquiry into acquiring Handmaids for their own nation. The ambassador begins to echo Gilead’s view of coerced reproduction as a “necessary” solution. At this point, any loyal fan of the show feels the threat growing on an unprecedented scale.

Serena Joy’s historical advocacy for fertility as a national resource sets things in a deeply disturbing context. It illustrates how persuasive rhetoric and public spectacles can pave the way for real-world harm.

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The narrative signifcance of A Woman's Place

Adapted for screen from Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, The Handmaid's Tales traces the journey of protagonist June Osborne (renamed Offred). In the patriarchal society created by Gilead, women are forced by the ruling class to bear children for powerful Commanders and their barren Wives.

The Handmaid's Tale primarily follows June’s story throughout the season, but A Woman’s Place offers a shift in perspective. The point of view moves from June to Serena Joy, delving into her disturbing backstory. This narrative choice forces viewers to briefly see through the eyes of an oppressor.

Through flashbacks, the episode brings to the surface Serena’s past involvement in the creation of Gilead. The episode from The Handmaid's Tale presents a rather nuanced view of her character by not putting her actions through a dehumanizing lens. This shift in perspective is pivotal in understanding the show’s willingness to portray both sides of the issue.

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Final thoughts:

Thus, A Woman’s Place stands as a stark reminder of how authoritarian regimes tighten control over women’s lives. It shows how such systems are often sustained by the participation of women who have been conditioned into the very oppressive system that strips them of control over their own lives. More importantly, this episode from The Handmaid's Tale highlights how one oppressive regime can spark others to follow suit. It suggests that when one emerges, it is only a matter of time before others follow the same evil path.

Also read: The Handmaid’s Tale: Everything you need to know about D’Arcy Carden’s role as Aunt Phoebe