This research note considers the possibility of a designated social sciences fiction for the social sciences similar to that of science fiction for the sciences. Social science fiction achieved prominence in the 20th century with Orwell 1984 and Huxley Brave New World. 1984 was more important than Brave New World in shaping the political background in the period. The note discusses the possibility that recent social science fiction depicting all-woman societies would be useful in political and sociological discourses and teaching. Four fictional accounts of all-women societies are analyzed on four dimensions including biological reproduction, population control, and the nature of social sciences in the narrative.Harrod, Jeffrey. (2024). All-Women Societies in Social Science Fiction.
Atwood Handmaidens Tale (1985) made into a series in 2016-2022 is, as many other a female dystopia, set in a heterosexual society/situation. Other examples often included are Christine de Pisan The Book of the City of Ladies (1405) and Corbett New Amazonia (1889). Pisan City of Ladies is in fact a compilation of the works of successful and prominent women at the time but they are not set aside in an enclave or society. Pisans extraordinary contribution was her understanding of the hostility of men to women and the myths and attitudes of men about women which she rejects with logic and confidence. Corbett New Amazonia was an imaginary utopia for women within a heterosexual society in which the position and roles of men and women in 1899 were reversed. It was inspired by womens attempt to secure voting rights but is also advocated negative eugenics for children born disabled. Four All-women society fictions
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Various writers -The Amazons The Amazons was an all-women society in antiquity and considered to be a myth but for which there is some archaeological evidence Biological reproduction: the Amazon women were (according to embellishers of the myths) were permitted to meet with men outside Amazonia every spring in order to be impregnated. Population control: the resulting children, if male, were killed or returned to their fathers. This would normally mean that for replacement rate each Amazon would have to bear a female 3 child. The myth emphasises the Amazonians military and combative process so there may have been population loss from these activities. Science: There is little reference to science in the Amazonian myth but if military technology is science the Amazonians were said to have invented a unique weapon and perfected the art of archery.
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Social Science: There was a succession of queens in Amazonian society which suggest monarchy as a governmental form. The annual meeting with men was said to be with a neighbouring all-men society and was accompanied with ritual presents and diplomacy. It also appears that Amazons were used as mercenaries and that would also require structured relations with other societies or external relations between societies.
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Perkins-Herland Two men accidentally land their plane in Herland a national/unit of females living without men for at least 1500 years. Biological reproduction: parthenogenesis which, according to the foundational myth of Herland, appeared spontaneously after a group of isolated women saw their remaining two boy children die. Population control: at the beginning each woman was allowed to have 5 children. But this resulted in overpopulation and rationing of food after which they secured a voluntary withdrawal from child-bearing and a less voluntary one for women who were thought not to have the right attitude for the norms of Herland. In this way they succeeded in limiting the population to achieve a survival strategy of an enclave until at least 1910. Science: no science is evident and even pathogenesis appeared naturally, society was apparently pre-industrial but with sophisticated education and welfare systems
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