Talks & Entertainment

In her November 2011 Atlantic cover story “All the Single Ladies,” Kate Bolick asserts:

“Recent years have seen an explosion of male joblessness and a steep decline in men’s life prospects that have disrupted the “romantic market” in ways that narrow a marriage-minded woman’s options: increasingly, her choice is between deadbeats (whose numbers are rising) and playboys (whose power is growing). But this strange state of affairs also presents an opportunity: as the economy evolves, it’s time to embrace new ideas about romance and family—and to acknowledge the end of “traditional” marriage as society’s highest ideal.”

The story quickly went viral, provoking a wide range of reactions, and became one of The Atlantic’s most-talked-about stories of the year. The conversation continues in this panel discussion with Bolick; Hanna Rosin, an Atlanticsenior editor and author of the upcoming book End of Men based on her story in the July/August 2010 issue of the Atlantic; and Garance Franke-Ruta, a senior editor at The Atlantic who oversees the Politics channel.