By Caleb Taylor For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 05:12 GMT, 16 February 2019 | Updated: 05:12 GMT, 16 February 2019
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Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale has become a symbol of modern third-wave feminism.
But now, the author, 79, has poignantly said she refuses to label herself a 'feminist' as she does not follow a 'doctrine of ideas' of any kind.
On Saturday, Margaret praised the importance of independent critical thinking when she spoke to Good Weekend magazine ahead of the book's sequel.
'I don't follow a doctrine': The Handmaid's Tale author Margaret Atwood, 79, has revealed why she refuses the 'feminist' label during an interview with Good Weekend magazine
Explaining her comments, Margaret said it was important as a writer to not be beholden to established sets of ideas.
'I don't think you can be a novelist and have a doctrinaire set of ideas, [it means] you are just going to write propaganda,' she said.
'It's very annoying for some people,' she added, hinting at the pressure to embrace labels that might make her otherwise feel
