Mansplaining

 Recently, I read Bridge Michigan (a favorite and a news outlet I support) an article titled Speaking while female, mansplaining hurt women in workplace.  

Now, if you are a woman, you have first-hand experience with how this works. I don't know a single woman who hasn't experienced this, and it's usually at the hands of a mediocre white man.  

What is it? 

Mansplaining is a pejorative term meaning (of a man) "to comment on or explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner". The term was coined by Rebecca Solnit in her 2008 essay "Men Explain Things to Me".

Mansplaining is often characterized by the following:

• The man assumes that the woman knows less about the topic than he does, even if she has expressed expertise in the area.
• The man uses a condescending or patronizing tone, as if he is talking to a child.
• The man's explanation is often inaccurate or oversimplified, as if he is simplifying the topic for the woman's benefit.
• The man ignores the woman's attempts to correct him or point out that she already knows what he is talking about.

Here are some examples of mansplaining (these are priceless):

• A man explaining to a woman how to use a computer, even though she is a software engineer.
• A man explaining to a woman how to drive, even though she is a race car driver.
• A man explaining to a woman about her own body, even though she is a doctor.

You can read the article here and while you are at it, sign up to be a supporting member. You can also read a delightful article titled Grant Every Woman the Confidence of a Mediocre White Man.  

Lastly, make sure to sign up to vote. Need help? Ask me.