General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

25. The Disappearance by Philip Wylie.

Wed May 28, 2014, 03:51 PM

May 2014

First published in 1951. The world splits in two. In one world all the men disappear, in the other all the women disappear. The consequences for both are profound, especially given it was written when gender roles where far more rigid and stratified than they are now.

Haven't read it in many years, but my recollection is that in the men's world crime more or less got out of control. In the woman's, once they dealt with how to run things that men had formerly all been doing, it was much better.

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What would society look like if men were not in charge? [View all] RobertEarl May 2014 OP

Different. Brickbat May 2014 #1

I see where you are coming from - but many of our values are gendered, which makes this discussion el_bryanto May 2014 #4

Right, but if women were "in charge," would gentleness still be seen as a feminine value? Brickbat May 2014 #8

That's an interesting question right there el_bryanto May 2014 #12

I was raised to be a 'Gentleman' RobertEarl May 2014 #36

That sorta depends. Are the 75% mostly Michelle Bachmann or Elizabeth Warren? -nt Liberal Veteran May 2014 #2

That is a tough what-if to shape up because in human history Skidmore May 2014 #3

What would society look like if raccoons were in charge? zappaman May 2014 #5

Bwahaha! Or if porcupines were in charge... valerief May 2014 #10

or dolphins!!! zappaman May 2014 #14

Or opossum aliens. valerief May 2014 #17

They are - It's called Wall Street. chrisa May 2014 #22

I like the analogy but... zappaman May 2014 #23

Some years back I read something SheilaT May 2014 #6

Very interesting RobertEarl May 2014 #18

Scandinavia has also had a history of women staying at home for months while most men were gone. haele May 2014 #39

Thanks. SheilaT May 2014 #65

We wouldn't have an NFL, luv. nt valerief May 2014 #7

What if men wanted to play football in a professional league? The2ndWheel May 2014 #16

Look at the question to which I was responding. nt valerief May 2014 #21

You ever play football? RobertEarl May 2014 #29

Go away, if you won't look at the question to which I was responding. nt valerief May 2014 #33

There's no historical precedent from which I can draw any valid reference LanternWaste May 2014 #9

The Iroquois, from whom we got the Senate and House representation system was mostly matriarchal KurtNYC May 2014 #31

even during that period, men only made political decisions LanternWaste May 2014 #48

Thomas Berger wrote an interesting novel in 1973 entitled Regiment of Women. randome May 2014 #11

No knee-jerk reactions? MineralMan May 2014 #13

When asked this, I would have to probably go and devolve it a bit... Xyzse May 2014 #15

Hey, not an easy question to answer. RobertEarl May 2014 #19

No precedents, but I am willing to go out on a limb and say Whisp May 2014 #20

I was raied to love the NFL RobertEarl May 2014 #27

I like sports for kids and just having fun with it. Whisp May 2014 #32

I LOVE football!! one_voice May 2014 #41

I used to love baseball. Women from my work joined a league. Whisp May 2014 #52

Good point. Agree about the wars treestar May 2014 #49

What immediately comes to my mind is - the whole idea of empathy would not be sneered at so readily. calimary May 2014 #24

The Disappearance by Philip Wylie. SheilaT May 2014 #25

No more war IronLionZion May 2014 #26

Now I wish you to know about the strangest thing ever found anywhere.... Brother Buzz May 2014 #28

Better health care. Jamastiene May 2014 #30

I liked the 'good stuff above' RobertEarl May 2014 #42

I agree with all this... one_voice May 2014 #44

I thibk most people tend to forget, KitSileya May 2014 #71

I think it would look like Iceland. Seriously. Squinch May 2014 #34

I wish there could be a WNFL for women who want to watch other women play. Jamastiene May 2014 #43

I think the sports that would be huge like football is now, though, Squinch May 2014 #45

Thank you. Jamastiene May 2014 #47

LOL! Secretly, I think everyone knows that T ball sucks. Squinch May 2014 #50

The Jock Strap Industry would go bankrupt snooper2 May 2014 #35

NFL = Nancy's Female League abakan May 2014 #37

Are there any fictional stories like this? Blue_Adept May 2014 #38

Not like this. But a good read, anyway, is Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman ancianita May 2014 #54

Not written by a woman Prophet 451 May 2014 #68

Found another Blue_Adept May 2014 #72

"All That Glitters" (1977) KansDem May 2014 #40

Depends on the women in charge. nt AverageJoe90 May 2014 #46

Women have the same voice in the head as men do messiah May 2014 #51

A Matriarchal Society in the age of Globalization Juchit�n/Southern Mexico Zorra May 2014 #53

It things were more or less equal between the sexes, that would be great. dawg May 2014 #55

I say we give it a try and see what happens. thucythucy May 2014 #56

Judging by the things I witness around here and in the real world? Shandris May 2014 #57

We've become conditioned RobertEarl May 2014 #61

A bunch of fat, happy women janlyn May 2014 #58

The word "peace" would not exist... cherokeeprogressive May 2014 #59

Rainbows, fluffy clouds, and sunshine quinnox May 2014 #60

No one in my life has ever asked this in a public forum! Hmm...If women were having their way... ancianita May 2014 #62

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles May 2014 #63

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2014 #64

Impossible to say Prophet 451 May 2014 #66

A whole lot like it does now LadyHawkAZ May 2014 #67

This reminds me of George Carlin: Edim May 2014 #69

well it depends one "which women" auntsue May 2014 #70