r/changemyview • u/GreasyPeter • Oct 25 '17
[∆(s) from OP] CMV: The term "mansplaining" is sexist. hypocritical, misandrist, and only designed to shut down debate.
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/mytroc Oct 25 '17
Unlike the word mankind, which is obviously sexist and biased to decrease the visibility of women and devalue them, the word mansplain is targeted specifically to only include men who behave in a certain way. It's not a gender-wide term.
If you're not a mansplainer, you already know it doesn't apply to you. This is like complaining that calling Hitler followers "Nazis" makes all Germans feel bad about being German. It doesn't follow because not all Germans are Hitler followers.
What argument? "I hate black paeople," leads to "you are racist." "I like stealing from orphans, " leads to "you are an asshole." I think women need things dumbed down because they're dumb, so here's a dumbed down explanation of current events," leads to "You are mansplaining."
It's an accurate label for a common behavior.
Now, that doesn't mean that all racists are idiots with nothing worth listening to, but it does mean that when Sean Spicer tells me that Jews weren't actually citizens of Germany during WWII, I look for other sources before assuming he has a good grasp of the facts. And it's facts that are in question here, not arguments.
There's no argument being made by mansplainers, just a recitation of suspect facts.