by Gray Trammel
Wearing their infamous red robes and white bonnets, an estimated 33 Seattle Handmaids held a silent demonstration at Pike Place Market on the cloudy day of Sept. 19. This is the latest event by the group, which raises awareness about the oppression of women and girls, and has been bringing attention to disturbing Washington state initiatives brought forth by Let’s Go Washington, one of which includes invasive genital exams for girls in sports.
The Handmaids walked around the market in small groups for about an hour, capturing the attention of visitors; some took photos and others asked what was happening. The Handmaids walked in pairs holding signs that displayed facts and statistics about the ongoing loss of women’s rights. They gathered beneath the market’s main neon sign and formed a long horizontal line with their signs, standing still and in silence for about 15 minutes.
A member of the group who was not wearing Handmaid attire distributed papers to people at the market, including an Equal Rights Amendment petition, information about the Washington Handmaid Coalition, a handout from the National Organization for Women on how people can get involved, and information on Seattle’s Gender Equity Movement.
Another handout from No Hate in WA state urged residents to vote against Initiative 001 and Initiative 638. The handout said Initiative 638 would exclude girls from participating in K-12 sports through invasive genital examinations, while Initiative 001 would restrict students’ access to help, and endanger victims of child abuse.
The Seattle Handmaids draw from The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian television series based on Margaret Atwood’s novels. The TV series depicts a regime that has taken control of the U.S. and stripped women of their rights.
The red robes and white bonnets worn by the fictional Handmaids became an international symbol of protest after the television adaptation aired, with protesters using the attire at demonstrations focused on women’s rights and reproductive freedom.
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