Two-thirty comes during Testifying. It's Janine, telling about how she was gang-raped at fourteen and had an abortion.But whose fault was it? Aunt Helena says, holding up one plump finger. Her fault, her fault, her fault. We chant in unison. Who led them on? She did. She did. She did. Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen? Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson.
In this excerpt from "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, Janine recounts the traumatic experience of being gang-raped at a young age, followed by an abortion. The narrative reveals a disturbing societal tendency to place blame on the victim, as Aunt Helena leads a chant that condemns Janine for the incident. This moment highlights the harsh judgment often directed at women, where their actions are scrutinized and they are held accountable for the violence inflicted upon them.
The repetition of "her fault" and the phrase "Teach her a lesson" underscore the damaging ideology that seeks to shame the victim rather than address the real perpetrator. The societal norms that allow such victim-blaming reflect a toxic culture where women’s sexuality is policed and misused as a justification for violence against them. This powerful testimony reveals the complexities of trauma and the struggle against a culture that perpetuates blame and shame instead of justice and support.
