Template:Mansplaining: Difference between revisions
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[[Mansplaining]] is an example of [[casual misandry]]. |
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[[Mansplaining]] is the notion that men routinely speak to women in a condescending manner and in particular do so far more often than they would do so to men. This term is now widely used by women. Stories of men engaging in this behaviour are widely available online.<ref>http://mansplained.tumblr.com/</ref> |
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In its original use, mansplaining differed from other forms of condescension in that it was said to be rooted in the assumption that a man is likely to be more knowledgeable than a woman. However, it has come to be used more broadly, often applied when a man allegedly takes a condescending tone in an explanation to anyone, regardless of the age or gender of the intended recipients: a "man 'splaining" can be delivered to any audience. |
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One of the principal problems with the concept of mansplaining is that it presumes that the men talking in a condescending manner only do this to women. They may simply be arrogant individuals who act this way towards many people, regardless of gender. Because of the inherent assumption about the gender bias of someone who is allegedly mansplaining, the concept is ''unflasifiable''. It is not possible to prove that these men would never act that way towards other men. |
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In 2013 Dictionary.com said it was adding both mansplain and the suffix (libfix) -splain to its dictionary. Its announcement read in part: "In addition to being creative, this term, particularly the -splaining part, has proven to be incredibly robust and useful as a combining form in 2013." Mansplaining has also engendered parallel constructions such as womansplaining, whitesplaining, rightsplaining, and goysplaining. |
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As the word became more popular, several commentators complained that misappropriation had diluted its original meaning. Joshua Sealy-Harrington and Tom McLaughlin wrote in newspaper The Globe and Mail that the term has been used as an ad hominem to silence debate. |
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In 2010, it was named by the New York Times as one of its "Words of the Year". The word was nominated in 2012 for the American Dialect Society's "most creative word of the year" honor. In 2014 it was added to the online Oxford Dictionaries. |
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A phone line has been set up in Sweden so that women can report male colleagues for [[mansplaining]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W45STzV7BUs</ref> |
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The [[mainstream media]] routinely use the term. |
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{{H2|Origin and Usage}} |
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[[Category: Mansplaining]] |
[[Category: Mansplaining]] |
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Revision as of 13:45, 2 February 2026
Mansplaining is an example of casual misandry.
In its original use, mansplaining differed from other forms of condescension in that it was said to be rooted in the assumption that a man is likely to be more knowledgeable than a woman. However, it has come to be used more broadly, often applied when a man allegedly takes a condescending tone in an explanation to anyone, regardless of the age or gender of the intended recipients: a "man 'splaining" can be delivered to any audience.
In 2013 Dictionary.com said it was adding both mansplain and the suffix (libfix) -splain to its dictionary. Its announcement read in part: "In addition to being creative, this term, particularly the -splaining part, has proven to be incredibly robust and useful as a combining form in 2013." Mansplaining has also engendered parallel constructions such as womansplaining, whitesplaining, rightsplaining, and goysplaining.
As the word became more popular, several commentators complained that misappropriation had diluted its original meaning. Joshua Sealy-Harrington and Tom McLaughlin wrote in newspaper The Globe and Mail that the term has been used as an ad hominem to silence debate.
In 2010, it was named by the New York Times as one of its "Words of the Year". The word was nominated in 2012 for the American Dialect Society's "most creative word of the year" honor. In 2014 it was added to the online Oxford Dictionaries.
A phone line has been set up in Sweden so that women can report male colleagues for mansplaining.[1]
The mainstream media routinely use the term.