"All the women having jobs: hard to imagine, now, but thousands of them had jobs, millions." (173)

          Atwood points out here that while it takes a long time to achieve equality (decades where women did not work,) it only takes a few moments to tear it down. Offred can hardly imagine a time where women, including herself, were equal. Yet, that equality took decades of women fighting for their rights to achieve. Atwood's message here is that it is essential to keep fighting for, protecting, and appreciating the rights we as Americans and women have.