“From each according to her ability; to each according to his needs.”

The phrase “From each according to her ability; to each according to his needs.” appears in the beginning of Chapter Twenty in 'The Handmaid's Tale'. The quote is a sexist restatement of a quotation of 1875 from the writings of Karl Marx, father of Communism. This slogan also suggests that men can do what they please if it is needed by him, however; on the other hand women are only useful when it comes to their abilities. 

The purpose of things in the Gilead society existing is so that it is useful for everyone that is a part of the society. Women in the novel such as the Martha’s and the Handmaid’s have roles of their own; Martha’s help run the household by cooking and cleaning and the Handmaid’s respond to the Commander’s ‘needs’. The Handmaid’s are like a programmed reproduction service, there ‘ability’ is to have kids and in the Gilead state this is exactly what they are used for.