Dictatrix

What if a dictatorship existed, but used no traditional male means of power? A darkly comic thought experiment in absurdity and generalisation.

…and we all know how those hyper masculine experiments in the 20th century ended, don’t we? Epaulattes and uniforms. Beatings and prison camps. Eagles and hammers on every building, the state with an iron grip on its subjects. But they all ended, and none made it beyond a single lifetime".

The speaker’s manner and deilvery didn’t really match her words. She was reading as much from notes as speaking to her audience, and the tone was a motherly one, leading her listeners through the slalom gates in the order she wanted. She knew where the speech was going, and was getting the job done.

“We’ve made great strides for equity and diversity since then, and many of them have proved essential through the last 5 years. We don’t compel, we co-erce. We don’t indoctrinate, we build consensus. We bring everyone on our side, because we know deep down they are good people, and will do as we recommend just because it’s the right thing to do.”

There was no name plaque on a table in front of her, there wasn’t even a table. The speech was being given from a room which had been decorated in the latest style; neutral greys with Edison bulbs on light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. They bathed the room in a homely light. There was a decentralised assortment of natural wood coffee tables, distressed leather sofas and armchairs - half way between trendy cafe and showhome.

“We no longer imprison or punish those who won’t join in, or those who claim that they should be left alone. We simply ostracise them from our systems, our banks and our businesses. The subtle pressure has proved far more effective, many don’ even see it weilded. We’ve made massive cuts in security, we no longer need a service investigating opposition to doing the right thing. People are keener than ever to denounce those who won’t do what they should, who try to stand against everyone else’s health and safety like some kind of throwback misogynist or violent individualist.”

The atmosphere was unusual, not formal despite the single presentation screen but not so relaxed that the speaker wasn’t being listened to. It wasn’t a case of preaching to the choir, but the audience knew the speaker’s words to be true even if they’d never heard them before.

“Since we’ve made people feel safer, more secure and less scared they’ve never felt freer to tell us their truth. Denunciations have increased, and weight of chatter online has already proved sufficient to prompt some men to turn resign from positions rather than face a messy trial.”

The room had no logos, there was no uniform among the crowd and no unifying feature could be seen. The room could have been anywhere from Colorado to Cambridge, Cologne or Cadiz. Everywhere people took notes on slick silver Macbooks, their Starbucks frappe to one side and a canvas tote bag or backpack open at their feet.

“We’ve increased the advice we give people, we’re offering them a greater helping hand than ever before. Everyone living here will shortly have exactly what they need as we move beyond the old idea that some were somehow deserving of failure. Our move to digital currency is pushing a few of those grandads and rednecks who believed that to either leave or join the real world. We’ve never lived in a safer time, since we moved from the hypermasculine concept of ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’ we’ve done more to take dangerous, creepy men off the streets than anyone else.”

The speaker stopped to sip her Fit-Water from its branded bottle, making sure to place it back on its coaster.

“And we all need to remember. It really is our job to remind people; all of this has been accomplished without any violence or protest. We’re part of the most enlightened government ever seen”