By Gio Arteaga
Yes, I am a man, and yes, I know this is ironic coming from a man. However, while being a man, I’ve also grown up in a predominantly female-run household, and while I’ll never get to have a lived experience as a woman, I’ve seen, experienced, and seemingly have mansplained myself. Everyone hears the word mansplaining and, as it’s in the name, infers that it’s a man explaining. But this word goes so much deeper, its history haunting and painting—seemingly—all men as sexist, overconfident, lacking self-awareness, and being biologically programmed to explain everything. And while this may be true, this article is in no way aimed to encourage hate towards men, but is meant to explain how these behaviors hurt rather than help women, and to encourage men to have better manners!
What exactly is ‘Mansplaining?’
As the name implies, the word “mansplaining” according to the Merriam Webster dictionary is:
“to explain something to a woman in a condescending way that assumes she has no knowledge about the topic.”
The word itself—aimed to be humorous—is used to explain the “intersection between overconfidence and cluelessness,” explains Rebecca Solnit in an introduction to her novel Men Explain Things to Me which personally opened my eyes to these lived experiences of Solnit, and lots of women.
Why is Mansplaining Bad?
Mansplaining as a whole—as previously established—is supposed to have a negative connotation that’s associated with men suppressing women and female-presenting individuals. Now, to the people who are reading, put this into perspective; you’re studying with a friend—who’s perhaps a man—for a test you’re both cooked for, you are understanding the context decently well but ask your guy friend for help. He then decided to go on a whole tangent about the topic and explain the concept to you like you’re five years old and yet to have a conscience. It’s ANNOYING and simply just frustrating. That’s mansplaining.
However, while this is a ‘perfect’ example of what mansplaining looks like, it comes in so many different forms like a man speaking over you in a condescending way, establishing a precedent/demanding respect, or overall a man speaking to you in a disrespectful manner—that’s also just being rude! But behind the condescending mask, men historically have done this for hundreds of years. Take, for instance, the creation of the 19th amendment: women up until 1920 were not allowed to cast a vote simply for just being a woman. Because of this, the rise of traditional housewives became the norm, and women were oppressed and shunned for voicing their opinions. However, women have always had individual opinions about the feminist movement, whether that be good or bad, but regardless, women who spoke out were treated as dumb. During the first wave of the feminist movement, “women ignored these societal rules” but “were mocked and scorned” for straying away from the societal norm according to The National Women’s History Museum. Now, although some men may argue that these ‘jokes’ or behaviors are ‘not personal’, the simple fact is they are. Through the systematic silencing that women have historically faced, men speaking over women is not ‘not personal’ but instead a method used to establish control and perpetuate sexist values.
So yes, while now in modern society traditional sexism is not as prevalent, mansplaining is more present than ever. It’s a new take on male misogyny, and an uneven power dynamic that perpetuates a cycle of dominance and submission.
How can society be better?
While some men may not intend to mansplain, the incidental practice of over-explaining is harmful. From talking over a female classmate during a group presentation to more extreme examples like workplace harassment, these behavior patterns are something people need to recognize and notice in order to correct them.
Men need to start looking at women and female-presenting individuals as equals and move away from unhealthy power dynamics. The sooner people realize their flaws, the sooner they can realize and make society a better place.