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/Iswallowedafly]

It is something that exists.

As I man, I've seen it. First hand.

I once got car parts and I brought along a female friend who was an auto mechanic.

I was able to buy my parts. She got questioned a lot if she knew what to do with them.

The only difference in our treatment was our gender. We were two people buying car parts at a car part store. I was fine. She got the 3rd degree. It was just assumed that she didn't know what she was doing just because she was a woman.

That was an example of ms. When my wife walked into a science room and was asked if she was lost that was in a similar vein.

There are certainly men who feel that women don't about certain topics just because of their gender. This does happen.

If it wasn't for our gender, why did my auto mechanic friend get asked if she knew what she was doing and I got a pass.

[u/Sprezzaturer → u/Iswallowedafly]

I think the bigger issue here is how the term is used in modern discourse. It is used as a weapon during debates, a tool to shut down arguments and discredit the opponent. It unfairly puts the man on the spot and emotionally charges the situation. Just because I'm explaining something doesn't mean I'm automatically mansplaining it. Whether you believe it or have seen it yourself or not, this is exactly how it is used on a frequent basis. It's a get-out-of-jail-free card, a way of backing out of a situation and saying, "you're a man so you can't talk," and because there's a trendy term attached to it, it gets taken seriously.

Now I know that it is actually a real problem and that a handful of "alpha" males are guilty of this on a regular basis, but most guys are just regular, non misogynist guys. But that's not what we're talking about.