In Farmer in the Sky, Heinlein clearly wishes to make important points about cooperation and about the individual contributions of both males and females to the survival of the group. At the same time, he wishes to emphasize that humans will carry familiar roles and attitudes with them into space. To this end, he divides social roles according to "traditional" gender categories. Men are given more active roles, while women are allotted more domestic tasks. Despite this division of labor, women are routinely consulted when important decisions are made, and their opinions are given equal weight. Ultimately, everyone's contribution is essential to the survival of the colony.

Heinlein also makes a point concerning a group's tendency to take extreme measures when survival is at stake. The quasi-military discipline that prevails aboard the space transport produces examples of infractions and punishments that may seem brutal. However, these...