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Handmaid's Tale-Inspired Lingerie Sparks Outrage
Handmaid's Tale-Inspired Lingerie Sparks Outrage
A sleepwear company has named a silk set after a sex slave.
Lunya, a sleepwear company, has announced its new lingerie set will be named "Offred" after Elisabeth Moss's character in the dystopian series The Handmaid's Tale. Her character is not one that will turn you on; she's a sex slave forced to bear children by a brutal patriarchy that treats women as subhuman. Lunya chose to name its red nightie after Offred, who also wears the color -- which identifies her as property.
Lunya has defended the silk set. "We're big fans of the show here at Lunya and named the color after Elisabeth Moss's journey as 'Offred,'" a spokesperson told io9. "We're with the resistance!"
The internet was not thrilled with the $178 item.
\u201cI can't speak for all ladies, but nothing makes me feel sexier than when I put on some lingerie inspired by an outfit worn by imprisoned women who are raped and forced to become breeders. Sooooo sexy. #WTF #HandmaidsTale https://t.co/eoTW800Z2S\u201d— Three Busy Ladies (@Three Busy Ladies) 1523985473
\u201cAnd in our continuing series of 'clothing lines that haven't been properly thought through' news https://t.co/69RixUl6fv\u201d— Michael Moran (@Michael Moran) 1523970409
\u201cRx #UndiesHisEye https://t.co/9fGnNnsveK\u201d— The Gormogons (@The Gormogons) 1523978947
\u201cI can't speak for all ladies, but nothing makes me feel sexier than when I put on some lingerie inspired by an outfit worn by imprisoned women who are raped and forced to become breeders. Sooooo sexy. #WTF #HandmaidsTale https://t.co/eoTW800Z2S\u201d— Three Busy Ladies (@Three Busy Ladies) 1523985473
\u201cTIL that someone is making Handmaid's Tale-inspired sexy red lingerie https://t.co/sCyJSctka7\u201d— Michael Marshall (@Michael Marshall) 1523970020
Superfans noted that the woman the set is named for is not even allowed to use her real name. After being enslaved, Moss's character was given the name to clarify who owns her. Offred is shorthand for of Fred (who rapes her regularly). Others noted that making the content mainstream is a reason to skip the show altogether.
\u201cIt\u2019s because stuff like this actually happens and is not ironic or a joke that makes it impossible for me to watch that show. \nIt\u2019s too close. Too real.\nWhen I read the book more than 20 years ago there was no way I could imagine. https://t.co/BS2QymbXMW\u201d— Your Friendly Neighborhood Spinster (@Your Friendly Neighborhood Spinster) 1523934878
