The Handsmaid’s Tale television series based on Margaret Atwood’s influential and acclaimed novel, which explores topics related to the struggle of women to gain independence in a patriarchal and misogynic society, inspires the outfits (crimson robes and white bonnets) a group of women will be wearing this April 1st in the second round presidential elections in Costa Rica when they cast their votes.

The group of 10 women, denominated “Somos Nuestras” (We are Ours) made their first appearance on February 4 during the first round of the elections in the country; the group has since grown in number to at least 40 women that seek to defend the country’s social advancements.

“At my age, my grandmother had only voted in two elections. At my age this is my sixth elections process” “ (…) We will vote for a democracy in which the liberty continues to be liberty and not a restricted imposition of one type of spirituality”, is a short extract of a post shared through Facebook by Alicia Coto, one of the participants in this movement.

Coto told EFE that the protests were sparked by this year’s presidential elections, since the results could “damage the progress made regarding women’s freedoms.”

“As a result of the attention that our proposal generated and the genuine support that we have received, our objective has extended to raising awareness, discussion and bringing attention over topics that affect women, sexual minorities and other groups historically discriminated”, explained Somos Nuestras through Medium.com

Two candidates are fighting for the presidency of Costa Rica over the next four years, Carlos Alvarado from the Citizens’ Action Party and Fabricio Alvarado, from the conservative National Restauration Party.