`Author:` Marge Piercy `Availability:` ## Key Takeaways Marge Piercy’s Woman on the Edge of Time (1976) is a feminist utopian novel that critiques societal structures and explores alternative ways of living, especially through its depiction of community. The novel follows Consuelo “Connie” Ramos, a Latina woman institutionalised in a psychiatric hospital, who becomes a conduit for experiencing two contrasting futures: the dystopian, corporate-controlled world and the utopian, egalitarian society of Mattapoisett. 1. Community as Collective Responsibility and Equality In the utopian Mattapoisett, community is rooted in egalitarian principles. There is no hierarchy based on gender, race, or class, and resources are shared collectively. Decisions are made communally, and everyone contributes to the well-being of the group. This vision critiques contemporary capitalist, patriarchal systems where inequality thrives, offering an alternative where individual worth is tied to participation and mutual care. • Parenting and Childcare: Child-rearing is communal, with children having multiple “co-mothers” rather than a single nuclear family. This spreads responsibility and ensures that caregiving is a shared, gender-neutral task. • Labour and Work: Labour is decentralised and non-exploitative, with tasks rotated among the community to avoid class divisions or oppressive workloads. 2. The Role of Technology in Supporting Community Technology in Mattapoisett exists to sustain the environment and reduce labour inequality rather than to accumulate wealth or power. It is integrated into community life in ways that enhance connection and sustainability. For example: • There is a harmony between technological advancement and ecological preservation. • Artificial reproduction, like ectogenesis (children being grown outside the body), removes the biological burden of childbirth from women, helping dismantle gender hierarchies. 3. Diversity and Inclusion in the Utopian Community Mattapoisett celebrates diversity as a strength, reflecting an ideal of communal inclusion rather than division. Unlike the dystopian vision in the novel, where individuals are commodified and controlled, Mattapoisett thrives on difference and collaboration. It rejects rigid identities in favour of fluidity, where individuals can define their own roles within the community. 4. Contrast with Connie’s Present and Dystopian Futures The oppressive systems Connie experiences in the 1970s—poverty, racism, sexism, and institutionalisation—stand in stark contrast to Mattapoisett’s communal ideals. Additionally, the dystopian future she glimpses (a hyper-capitalist, corporate-controlled society) serves as a warning of what happens when community is replaced by competition, greed, and exploitation. 5. Community as Resistance and Healing Connie’s journey underscores the importance of community as a form of resistance against systemic oppression. In her present, she struggles to find solidarity amidst societal structures that isolate and marginalise her. However, her vision of Mattapoisett provides a model for how communal care, equality, and shared purpose can heal fractured societies and individuals. Piercy’s novel ultimately asks readers to rethink what it means to belong to a community and challenges us to envision futures where care, justice, and equality are at the centre of collective life. ## Summary - **Premise**: This novel juxtaposes a dystopian future shaped by capitalist hierarchies with an egalitarian, anarchistic utopia. The protagonist, Connie, a woman from the contemporary United States, struggles to understand the utopia’s communal decision-making processes, absence of rigid gender roles, and lack of authority figures. - **Commentary on [[Hierarchical]] Conditioning**: Connie’s initial resistance to the anarchistic world reflects how deeply ingrained hierarchical systems are in those who have lived under them. ## Quotes - ## Notes > [!info] > ![[woman-on-the-edge-of-time.jpg]] `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`