Why Is The Handmaid's Tale Banned?
The book is challenged mostly for sexual content and language. It has appeared on American Library Association lists of most challenged books in three decades, and some school districts have removed it from libraries.
There is no nationwide ban in the United States. Decisions are made by individual schools, districts and libraries.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| ALA 1990s list | No. 37 of the 100 most challenged books |
| ALA 2000s list | No. 88 |
| ALA 2010s list | No. 29 |
| Reasons recorded by ALA | Profanity; vulgarity and sexual overtones |
| Notable cases | Judson, Texas (2006); Conroe, Texas (2022) |
Is it actually banned?
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict a book, and a ban is the removal itself. The American Library Association tracks challenges. The Handmaid's Tale has had many, and some succeeded at a local level, but it remains on sale across the country and in most libraries.
Atwood has said the book was banned in the past in some whole countries, naming Portugal and Spain under Salazar and Franco.
↑ Back to the topWhat do the complaints say?
The most common reasons are sexual scenes and language. The ALA lists profanity as a reason and, for 2019, the phrase vulgarity and sexual overtones. Some complaints also object to how the book treats religion and to its themes of violence against women.
In 2006, a parent complained to the Judson school district in Texas that the book was sexually explicit and offensive. In 2009 a parent in Toronto made a similar complaint, and a school board committee reviewed the book; the Canadian Library Association said it knew of no earlier challenge in Canada.
↑ Back to the topHow often is it on the most-challenged lists?
The ALA ranked it No. 37 for 1990 to 1999, No. 88 for 2000 to 2009 and No. 29 for 2010 to 2019. It was among the most challenged books of 2019 as well.
Challenges have grown more common overall: the ALA reported a rise of about 65 percent in the number of titles challenged in 2023 compared with 2022.
↑ Back to the topWhere has it been removed lately?
In late 2022, civil liberties groups wrote to the Conroe school district in Texas after reports that all copies had been taken out of school libraries. Other districts in states including Florida and Virginia have restricted or removed it at times. Details change quickly, so check local news for current status.
Atwood has answered such cases publicly. In 2022 a fireproof copy of the book was auctioned as a protest against book bans.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Handmaid’s Tale
This guide covers the novel only. The TV series and the 1990 film differ in places.