mansplaining

Mansplaining is a term for the condescending way *some* males *sometimes* explain things to females that may or may not need explaining. The difference between "explaining" and "mansplaining" highly depends on tone, which, if condescending, reveals an assumption of authority and power over the female on the part of the male. The difference is also rooted in the historical inequality of the sexes; males historically had more social/legal authority and power than females (and arguably, in many ways still presently do), and ingrained, unrealized biases tend to still be internalized long after political actions have been taken to equalize power. These unrealized biases often subtly worm their way into communication styles, many times through unchecked assumptions (even if innocently unrealized) and tone. This happens not just in regards to the struggle between sexes for *equal* authority, power, and political/social voice, but "mansplaining" is the term often used in this male/female context for the communication described.

While adding oil to my car engine at the gas station, a man stopped to kindly ask if I needed help (even though he'd probably not have done so had I been a male). When I said 'no thank you,' the man continued to stand there, "mansplaining" the parts of the vehicle, why it was important to make sure the engine always had enough oil, and how to properly add it. It hurt my feelings and made me sad, even though I know he thought he was just trying to be kind. It hurt my feelings because, by continuing to stand there and "mansplain," he 1) ignored my response, and 2) assumed that I was not intelligent/informed enough to decide for myself whether or not I needed assistance.

731👍 3298👎