the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

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4.8.1. Elimination of the institution of heterosexuality
also avoides the entrapment of women in the nuclear famlly
structure In Herland and Woman on The Edge of Time, the
erasure of female / male gender roles is most effective In
the redeflnltion of the family In Piercy's novel
llberatlon of women from role responsibility for childbearing
and rearing means that they are able to contribute
soclally In ways whlch sult thelr physlcal and intellectual
capablllties, while the greater inclusion of men in thls
responslblllty gives them much lncreased enotlonal awareness
and freedom The chlldren too seem more independent and
secure, freed of the complex psychological stresses of the
nuclear farnlly Connle's assertLon that her daughter (who
was forcibly taken away from her and senc for adoptlonl
would grow up better In Mattapoisett "she wlll be strong
there, well fed, well housed, well taught, she will grow up
m,Jch better and stronger and smarter than I" (WET 133)
amply illustrates Plercy's belle£ that the claustrophobia of
the nuclear famlly would prove detrimental to a child's
health The unsatlsfylng relat1onsh:p Connle has with her
own mother, and the inadequacy she herself feels as a mother
to her daughter Mgellna glven the circumstances of the
present reality, set in stark contrast to the vltality and
buoyancy the children of Mattapolsett experience, confirms
this fact