Gender-Based Violence in Dystopia: An Ecological Model Analysis of The Handmaid's Tale

This study applies the Ecological model framework to analyse gender-based violence (GBV) in Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale. Through a qualitative content analysis, this research examines how the novel illustrates the interconnected factors contributing to GBV at individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. Women face the trauma in this patriarchal society which cause gender-based violence. This study analyses how power is oppressive even in the case of reproduction in this dystopian novel. The findings highlight the ways in which patriarchal ideologies, oppressive social institutions, and power imbalances perpetuate GBV in the novel. The study demonstrates how The Handmaid's Tale serves as a cautionary tale, reflecting real-world GBV issues and emphasizing the importance of addressing ecological factors to prevent and mitigate GBV. This research contributes to the understanding of GBV dynamics and informs strategies for prevention and intervention.

Keywords: Gender-Based Violence, Ecological Model, The Handmaid's Tale, Dystopian Literature, Feminist Theory, Patriarchy.