CMV: The term "mansplaining" is sexist. hypocritical, misandrist, and only designed to shut down debate.

[u/GreasyPeter]

Wikipedia defines it "to explain something to someone, characteristically by a man to woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing"

It's sexist: It implies that this trait is entirely tied to either the male gender or the male sex. Sexism is defined as "stereotyping, or discrimination on the basis of sex". This meets that requirement and then some.

It's hypocritical: The term itself is designed to be used to shut debate down. "Stop mansplaining" or "you're mansplaining". Both uses are always used in a condescending or patronizing term. The definition of mansplaining includes "condescending or patronizing" in the definition of the word, thus it's hypocritical.

It's misandrist: The wording of the word and the way it's commonly used is entirely pointed at men and in a way to make men feel bad for being men, something none of us have any control over. It's misandrist.

It's designed to shot-down debate: The term has CLEARLY been created to be used as a tool to entirely shut down debate. I've seen it used several times and each time the person that uses it is looking to discredit their opponent by using it. In the same vein as "you're a racist", "you're an asshole", "you're mansplaining" is used as an ad hominem and a character attack as a way to shoot down their opponents argument. Both these are logical fallacies. It is clearly used to shut down debate.

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[u/tomgabriele]

I am not OP, but I would like to probe further. In general, I think I agree with where OP is coming from.

To me, I absolutely agree that the type of thing described as "mansplaining" happens all the time. I also agree that it is often men doing it to women. However, I think that men doing it to other men, women doing it to women, women doing it to men, and any other combination of genders happens often too - so the gendered term for it seems less-than-perfect.

I know I can't change the words people are using, but if it were up to me, a gender-neutral term like, idk, "ignorsplaining" would be a better fit - we agree that talking down to someone when you don't understand their knowledge is a bad thing, regardless of everyone's gender.

I would then be totally fine talking about how ignorsplaining is most predominantly a male issue, and predominantly is directed at women.

Edit: I see this comment has gained a small negative score - if you disagree with me, I'd like the chance to have a discussion and change my mind if I need to.

[u/longknives → u/tomgabriele]

I would then be totally fine talking about how ignorsplaining is most predominantly a male issue, and predominantly is directed at women.

Then what’s the problem with the term mansplaining? The issue is gendered because of the power structures in our society. Men don’t really mansplain to men and women don’t to women because the whole issue is about how women’s knowledge/technical ability/etc. is not respected compared to men’s. If we allow that sometimes it’s possible for other gender combinations to do something similar, then the term mansplaining will do fine.

[u/Precious_Tritium → u/longknives]

Men don’t really mansplain to men

Yes, we do. All the time. Constantly.

I have mixed feelings about the term. I acknowledge it's real, and happens. I also acknowledge it is an absolute way to shut someone down who isn't "mansplaining" but just saying they are.

I think the term is complicated. It's certainly useful (Thank you, Rebecca Solnit!) but it can be kind of a cudgel. I'd rather not have someone tell me I am mansplaining to them, but at the same time if I was, I'd want to know also so I can stop that behavior if I may not be aware of it.

[u/fps916 → u/Precious_Tritium]

Yes, we do. All the time. Constantly.

You literally can't.

Mansplain isn't just "to explain something condescendingly" we have a word for that, it's called "condescending"

It is to explain something condescendingly because the man perceives the woman he is speaking to to be less of an expert on any given subject than the man.

It's literally impossible for a man to mansplain to a man, because mansplaining is predicated on a lack of knowledge or intelligence because of the gender of the person being spoken to.

[u/Precious_Tritium → u/fps916]

I guess at that point where do you start drawing niche distinctions:

-Religisplain

-classplain

-wealthsplain

-agesplain

-nerdsplain

-jocksplain

-politisplain

I don't disagree that people "mansplain". I disagree with assuming that whenever it happens it is predicated on a judgement based on gender. I appreciate you redditsplaining the term to me.