Towards the end of a civilization the value society gives t…

Towards the end of a civilization the value society gives to men drastically declines, because great numbers of women no longer get what they need from men directly, in exchange for something they have to offer, but indirectly via massive redistribution of resources, unconditionally and without any expectation of getting something in return.

This, hilariously, leads to the idea of "we don't need men!" which is very similar to the mindset of "why do we need power plants if the electricity comes right out of the wall?"

The value of men skyrockets again much later on, when the redistribution bonanza that temporarily keeps a struggling power elite in the saddle, largely by buying female votes, finally comes to its inevitable end.