I used tears to sway my husband. It was a snapshot of the wider gender divide

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I used tears to sway my husband. It was a snapshot of the wider gender divide

Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser October 26, 2025 — 5.00am

When COVID shut down the world in 2020, I discovered something shameful about myself. Right from the start, the evidence showed that the disease was chiefly dangerous for a small subset of the population vulnerable due to advanced age or other health conditions. Yet Australia embarked on a cascade of lockdowns – starting with the least affected. Victorian premier Dan Andrews quickly closed schools. NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian prevaricated, but encouraged parents to keep their children home.

My husband and I knew our family faced little risk. He wanted our young child to stay in