Primary/ Secondary Control

In this post, I will first, identify and address primary and secondary control. After, I will relate June's character to how she exhibited secondary control by re-framing failure while being forced to be a handmaid in Gilead.  

Primary control is the pursuit to change the world to fit in accordance within one's personal desires and needs. Whereas, secondary control is what one relies on when primary control cannot be attained. Secondary control allows humans, in some way, to make sense of uncontrollable events in their life. For instance, Rothbaum (1982) highlights a few ways in humans utilize secondary control; luck (illusory control), identifying with powerful other (vicarious control), and deriving meaning from uncontrollable events (interpretive control). 

In June's case, she and her daughter Hannah are captured by the Gilead government, despite her and her families efforts to escape the city being overrun, she inevitably looses all sense of primary control. 

Once captured, June has no other choice other than to live as a handmaid for Fred Waterford (one of the architects of the Republic and its laws) and Serena Waterford (his wife). She is forced to follow the religion and laws that exploit women who are fertile and make them commit unspeakable acts. During this time (mostly during season 1), we see June following the laws and religion reluctantly (giving up her primary control), until she realizes her 'walking partner' Ofglen is a part of the Mayday resistance. Once ofglen reveals some insider information about an 'eye' (a spy) in her house, she becomes suspicious and discovers she has more power in herself than she previously thought. 

Overtime, June discovers who the eye is in her house. It is Nick, the driver for the Waterford's, who (luckily for June) turns out to be a part of the resistance. June and Nick develop feelings for each other while he watches out for her. June feels as though she trusts Nick as he acts as a secondary control for June. When Serena, who is endlessly praying for June to get pregnant, she grows impatient and arranges for Nick and June to procreate. This furthers June and Nicks trust and June finally becomes pregnant. Nick then arranges an attempt for June to escape. Though June ends up deciding to stay in Gilead to find her daughter, she continues to rely on Nick for trust, comfort, and connection.Nick allows June to feel empowered and in control of her life, even in Gilead.