[WARNING: This list contains disturbing images.] The Handmaid’s Tale—both the novel and the TV series—has thrust authoritarianism and the erosion of women’s rights into the global conversation, even inspiring some truly odd protest fashions. The story imagines a near‑future regime called Gilead, a theocratic dictatorship that mirrors our own technology but imposes draconian control over women, splitting them into rigid classes such as the Handmaids whose only task is to bear children for childless couples. In this roundup we examine 10 real countries whose grim realities feel ripped straight from Atwood’s dystopia.
Why These 10 Real Countries Echo The Handmaid’s Tale
10 Republic of El Salvador
These days the United States dominates headlines with its patchwork of abortion restrictions, but even the most stringent state‑level bans fall short of the absolute prohibitions found elsewhere. While some American states attempt to carve out exceptions for rape or incest, the overall trend is far from a nationwide, all‑encompassing ban.
In stark contrast, El Salvador enforces a total abortion ban that has been in place since 1998, offering zero exceptions and severely limiting access to birth‑control. Women found guilty of terminating a pregnancy—sometimes even those who simply experience a miscarriage—are prosecuted on homicide charges and can be sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
Gender‑based violence is also rampant: surveys indicate that roughly 67 % of Salvadoran women have endured some form of abuse, placing the nation among the world’s worst offenders in terms of violence against women.
9 Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been mired in near‑continuous conflict ever since the Rwandan genocide, with a myriad of rebel factions still active across its vast territory. Ethnic tensions fuel these groups, prompting them to target civilian populations, especially in contested regions.
Women bear the brunt of these atrocities: forced pregnancies, the intentional spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and systematic rape have been documented by aid agencies. The violence is not limited to combatants; civilians also perpetrate sexual assaults, compounding the horror.
Compounding the tragedy, the nation’s fragile judicial system struggles to hold perpetrators accountable, leaving countless survivors without justice or protection.
8 Islamic Republic of Iran
The 1979 Islamic Revolution transformed Iran into a theocratic state governed by Sharia, dramatically curtailing freedoms that many took for granted. Among the most severe impositions were capital‑punishment statutes that once mandated stoning for adultery—a punishment still technically permissible, though rarely enforced.
Women in Iran face a legal landscape that heavily favors male perpetrators. Sexual violence is pervasive, and the courts often side with men, making it exceedingly difficult for victims to secure justice. Despite these oppressive structures, a growing wave of activists is pushing back, demanding reform and greater rights.
Nevertheless, the regime remains authoritarian, and dissenters risk arrest, intimidation, or even torture for challenging the status quo.
7 Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Pakistan is often lumped together with other conflict‑torn Middle Eastern nations, yet its cultural fabric is distinctly South Asian and its political system technically functions as a democracy. However, deep‑seated patriarchal norms and weak governance, especially in border regions, create a hostile environment for women.
Honor killings continue to be a grim reality in many rural areas, and sexual violence remains rampant yet dramatically under‑reported. Although women possess the constitutional right to vote, Pakistan records the lowest female voter turnout worldwide.
While the country’s economy falters and extremist ideologies gain traction in certain provinces, a burgeoning network of NGOs and activists is striving to improve conditions, particularly in urban centers. The entrenched patriarchy and a dysfunctional legal framework, however, keep progress an uphill battle.
6 Malaysia
Malaysia dazzles visitors with pristine beaches, vibrant nightlife, and a booming tourism sector. Yet beneath the tropical veneer lies an authoritarian framework that imposes strict Islamic regulations on its Muslim citizens.
In heavily Islamic states, mandatory Friday prayers are enforced for weeks on end, and failure can land a person in jail for up to six months. Alcohol consumption is met with a spectrum of punishments calibrated to the perceived level of intoxication, and caning remains a legal penalty—often administered to women, as illustrated by the 2018 case where two women were caned for making out in a vehicle.
5 Federative Republic of Brazil
When people think of Brazil, images of carnival floats and endless beach parties spring to mind. Yet the nation also grapples with some of the highest crime rates on the planet, with several cities featuring among the world’s most violent.
Violence against women is especially alarming. Beyond domestic abuse and rape, Brazil sees a disturbing number of women murdered in broad daylight. In 2019, a Guardian investigation reported that an average of four women were killed each day, many cases stemming from domestic disputes. A lax legal system and inadequate law‑enforcement response exacerbate the crisis.
4 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has become the poster child for the suppression of women’s rights. While recent headlines celebrate milestones such as women finally being allowed to drive, the kingdom’s overall legal architecture remains deeply repressive.
Formerly, women over 21 could not leave the house without a male guardian’s permission—a rule that has since been repealed. Nonetheless, men retain broad legal leeway to control women’s lives, and sexual violence often goes unpunished. Victims may even be charged with adultery and face execution by sword, as beheading remains the nation’s most common method of capital punishment.
3 Federal Republic of Somalia
Somalia rarely makes headlines, yet the country has endured a civil war since at least the 1980s, spawning a cascade of humanitarian catastrophes. From rampant disease outbreaks to piracy, the nation’s challenges are manifold.
The situation for women is especially dire. Female genital mutilation (FGM) remains widespread, often unreported, and sexual violence is a persistent threat across many regions. Until recently, stoning was a legal punishment, underscoring the severity of gender‑based oppression.
The ongoing conflict leaves large swaths of the country without a central authority, further eroding any semblance of protection for vulnerable populations.
2 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Afghanistan has long been a battlefield for wars in which it had little agency, and its tribal mosaic adds layers of complexity. While the Taliban once controlled almost the entire nation (1996‑2001), their reign was marked by public beheadings, stonings, and a rigid code governing every aspect of women’s lives.
Today, a central government exists, yet the Taliban continues to hold sway over sizable territories, perpetuating a climate of sexual violence and oppression. Women still confront severe restrictions, and the ongoing conflict keeps the specter of past atrocities alive.
1 Republic of the Sudan
Sudan was ruled for nearly three decades by Omar al‑Bashir, an authoritarian leader whose regime was defined by brutal crackdowns, mass rapes, and widespread pillaging of civilian areas by the army. The uprising that finally ousted him left a power vacuum, but the country remains mired in conflict.
Even after Bashir’s fall, women continue to face targeted sexual violence. Rape is frequently used as a weapon to subdue populations, and, shockingly, adultery can still be punished by stoning. The current military government has been accused of its own human‑rights abuses and struggles to assert authority over the country’s many armed factions.
Thus, Sudan remains entrenched in a chaotic landscape where women’s rights are perennially under siege.
About The Author: Himanshu Sharma writes for outlets such as Cracked, Screen Rant, The Gamer, and Forbes. He can be found shouting colorful commentary on Twitter, sharing amateur art on Instagram, or taking on freelance writing gigs.