The End of Men

by Christina Sweeney-Baird

I dream of such a lack of control.

Part of me is completely baffled that, in a time of crisis, the political showmanship that’s endemic in public institutions is still happening.

Pandemics can’t be kept out. It doesn’t work like that, not anymore.

What I do know, from years of reporting, is that ignorance, incompetence and fear so often go hand in hand with government that none of us should be surprised if the institutions we thought would keep us safe would in fact be woefully inadequate in the face of a pandemic.

This woman had everything in the world she could possibly want, but she wanted all the wrong things.

Gynarchy is the word we use for the takeover by women of the world depriving men from taking their rightful places in society.)

“Just because your husband left you doesn’t mean your house can’t catch on fire. In other words, tragedy doesn’t immunize you against further tragedy.”

when someone isn’t there anymore, you adapt.

a female-only dating site with different settings depending on how much romantic experience a woman has had with other women.

job you’re assigned by the state and that’s that.

“You know, we don’t pretend that women are suddenly all gay now. There’s no doubt that female sexuality is more fluid than male sexuality is, although that’s not saying much. But the fact is that humans don’t like to be alone and there aren’t a lot of men now, so we do what we can to still feel like the people we used to be.”

like to ask, so you know they’re not forgotten,” Poppy says. “You remember them and now so do

“Guess what, mental health also keeps people alive.”

“That’s lovely,” I say, but I’m biting back jealousy and the hot sting of shame that follows it.

You know, it’s hard to find someone who’s truly proud of you, without any resentment or pride.