The Beehive

Originally released in 1980, this book has scary connections to today's situation. It is also available in a current release, thanks to the estate of the late author. Worth reading!

Economic problems and religious direction initially shift the blame for job pressure onto women. Once those in charge realize the problems with this, they bring back oppressed women to do some jobs - "women workers", dressed all in grey. The only other choice for women in this dystopia is enforced motherhood.

The plot here involves the eventual uprising of these oppressed women, rebellion against a very patriarchal state. One view of that is provided by a visitor to the country, an artist. Through him we know other countries haven't gone this far. The novel is focused on one country in question, loosely the UK but it could easily happen anywhere.

The author was apparently involved in a struggle for women's rights in conservative Ireland at the time, but I don't know the local history well enough to say how likely this dystopia was there. It's frighteningly possible here in the US - quotes from the novel felt similar to what I've seen in the news.

Not strictly SF, this was a very good book written from multiple points of view. The ending felt a little sudden, but it was also just the ending of the current situation - the start of something new. Perhaps it provided some hope in Ireland at the time; perhaps it can provide some hope in today's US. Recommended!