Why the term "Mansplaining" is alienating, divisive, and sexist.

Uncap · 2013-06-19T18:22:11+00:00

Of course it's a bad term. It's nothing more than a thought terminating cliche designed to shut down legitimate debate.

5th_Law_of_Robotics · 2013-06-19T17:06:22+00:00

Because it's basically saying someone is wrong because of their gender?

HilscherFarms · 2013-06-19T18:16:55+00:00

What's it called when feminists have to have it explained to them by other feminists that using a slur against men telling them that their objections are not valid due to their gender makes them look retarded? Is it femmsplaining?

Irrelevant_Tosser · 2013-06-19T21:22:32+00:00

Explaining something to another person is a great way to gauge how much they know on a subject. I conversely have no problem with other people explaining things to me, as every piece of knowledge that I know was explained to me in one form or another. Hell, I have buddies that I regularly explain things to that I think that they already know, and they do the same to me. Sometimes you get in a rut working on a problem, and that is the only way to get yourself out of it.

At least if someone gets mad at me for "mansplaining," I learn what kind of person they are. It shows an unwillingness to work with others as individuals.

HoundDogs · 2013-06-19T22:14:50+00:00

Anytime this term has ever been used against me it's just been a way for rad-fems to shut down a conversation they don't like. It's a showy, arrogant way for them to dismiss debates without actually needing to present anything logical or meaningful to the conversation.

Also, it's obviously sexist.

giegerwasright · 2013-06-19T17:46:02+00:00

"I want to put my hand in that fire."

"You realize that if you put your hand in that fire, then you will most likely get severely burned, right?"

"God. More mansplaining? I'm so tired of these virgin neckbeard fedora wearing misogynists mansplaining me all the time!" She puts her hand in the fire defiantely, screams, and pulled it out. The skin is singed badly. "Oh noes! Oh noes! My handy burnies! My handy!"

"I told you that you'd get burned. You should put some aloe on that and go see a doctor."

"Pig! Scum! Rape apologist! Victim blamer!"

fukuaneveryoneuknow · 2013-06-20T02:18:28+00:00

Does it really need to be spelled out why "mansplaining" is highly offensive??

Do we also need to spell out why meth is bad, hitler was evil, or why puppies and kittens are cute??

Gornasht · 2013-06-19T21:42:39+00:00

It's interesting that the same people who think with a "women's studies" degree they can produce theories on biology, anthropology and even physiology have invented a term for a man who tries to explain something to a woman who is the expert on the subject. Typical feminist: do something, then project it on men and shame them for it.

elebrin · 2013-06-20T04:10:01+00:00

We demand a term that indicates when men try to explain something to a woman, often condescendingly, when she – rather than he – is the expert in the field.

Well, I don't know about anyone else here but I have spent a lot of time in interviews and in school in my life. I learned pretty early on that one of the best ways to get respect from people is to have correct information and then to display it. If you have two experts and one is explaining their understanding to the other, the second expert then generally will explain their understanding back. Of course, the idea is that than both can have a better understanding.

The goal isn't condescension, its obtaining a greater understanding. I especially take this tactic with field experts so they can correct me where I am wrong. I want that to happen.

Saying "this is what I know and how my intuition has carried me. What has your experience been?" to an expert, then having them enlighten you, is how you improve. Being correct and not needing enlightening is how you impress.

bleepbloopmusic · 2013-06-20T09:32:23+00:00

Gina provides a hypothetical situation where a woman is complaining about mansplaining, and someone else tells her she should have stuck up for herself. The context, here, is that the onus shouldn’t be on the victim to change their behavior.

It's not that the onus shouldn't be on the victim to 'change their behavior'. It's that people who find themselves consistently disregarded and ignored do not have a responsibility to correct or educate everyone they meet. If on occasion they feel like doing so that's great, but they do not have to. They certainly shouldn't be expected to have the energy or wherewithal to do so at all times.

UnamusedPunk · 2013-06-19T22:26:37+00:00

Femsplaning: "when a women attempts to explain something, but inevitably includes absolutely useless information"

Jodyleebruchon · 2013-06-20T05:37:32+00:00

It shouldn't be considered a real term by anyone. My significant other and I use it as a pejorative bonding joke from time to time though. "Let me mansplain you sumthin..." Humor really is a wonderful thing.

am2370 · 2013-06-20T15:57:44+00:00

I dunno, all the top comments in many top posts in this sub attempt to attribute motives and words to women in VERY general terms... That's something both rational MRAs and feminists hate, but this community actively tolerates comments like "women only divorce for money" and "women who win custody are not as fit as the father" and stuff like that... If that isn't mansplaining, what is? Men telling women and other men what the women REALLY think/want.

Pwntheon · 2013-06-19T20:50:18+00:00

mister_ghost · 2013-06-19T17:37:43+00:00

I totally agree that having a gendered term for being wrong and being an asshole about it is bad. Full stop. The word 'mansplaining' does have a place, though, and of course there a woman to man equivalent.

It will probably be easier to explain the second version, because it's something we all recognize, even without a word for it. Let's talk about the 'male power fantasy' argument against male objectification.

There are a lot of problems with it: it generalizes men, it suggests intrinsic violence in masculinity, and it doesn't really address the issue. But I think the men here can all agree that it's much more frustrating to hear it from a woman.

The reason for this is that it's ridiculous for a woman to be telling a man what he fantasizes about. It's condescending, and degrading.

Now there are grey areas and blurry lines, but it's pretty easy to err on the side of not mansplaining. Tell someone about how you perceive the world, not about how they do. Rather than saying "women aren't afraid of street violence because it's unlikely to happen to them" say something like "In my experience, women don't seem afraid of street violence, which makes sense because they're not likely targets".

And, of course, call it out when it happens in reverse.

Title	Why the term "Mansplaining" is alienating, divisive, and sexist.
Author	lathomas64
Upvotes	89
Comments	47
Date	June 19, 2013 4:56 PM UTC (13 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/1gnyjd/why_the_term_mansplaining_is_alienating_divisive/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/why-the-term-mansplaining-is-alienating-divisive.1170758 https://theredarchive.com/post/1170758

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