Communal describes things that are shared and used by all members of a group or community. It can also relate to activities done together by a community.
From French *communal*, from Late Latin *communalis* “of the community,” based on Latin *communis* “common, shared.” The word keeps the idea of belonging to everyone rather than to one owner.
A communal space is really a physical form of the word “we”—a place where ownership is shared and rules have to be negotiated. How people treat communal things often reveals how much they trust and respect each other.
Communal work—especially in caregiving, food preparation, and local organizing—has often relied heavily on women's unpaid labor. Language around 'communal' spaces and tasks has sometimes obscured who actually does the work.
Use 'communal' without assuming women will take on community or care tasks; specify responsibilities rather than relying on gendered expectations.
Women have been central to building and maintaining communal institutions, from mutual aid societies to neighborhood organizations.
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