To point out that the word "mansplaining" is sexist?

[gordonsbennnet]

Just that really. It may be funny here on Mumsnet, but if you use the term in a professional environment you should expect to be called out for it. Anyone offended by it would be justified in raising it with their HR department.

Absolutely ridiculous. It is not sexist - the act of mansplaining is.

If you're talking about people using the word incorrectly you may have a point.

🍪

Don't be silly.

Hopefully in a professional environment no one is indulging in mansplaining so it shouldn't ever be an issue.

If you don't understand what the entire concept behind the word "mansplaining" means, just ask.

It has a specific and precise meaning. If people are using it incorrectly, point it out and move out.

Except that it’s usually being used to describe the kind of highly problematic, yet deeply entrenched, behaviour where a man talks down to his female colleagues.

It’s a pervasive form of sexism and, actually getting all upset at this being pointed out (whatever term being used) and seeking to have HR come down on people for using this horrible ‘sexist’ term should maybe realise they’ve missed the point and consider why people feel they want to describe their behaviour as ‘mansplaining’.

Please explain why it is sexist.

Without using "well actually..."

Anyone offended by it would be justified in raising it with their HR department.

Anyone offended by being mansplained to perhaps should raise it with HR or management rather than calling the patronising git a mainsplainer, tbf.

, he mansplained.

“Pointing out sexism is sexist”

Aye, is it now?

Is that right Brian?

It's deeply sexist to notice when men are being pricks. How very dare we.

I did have a male colleague unfairly have this accusation leveled at him in a meeting. He was at a meeting of specialists in a certain field. A female professional said she did not understand how a particular technical method worked. My male colleague explained how it worked. She then accused him of mansplaining. Which he clearly wasn’t. He was helping a colleague who had explicitly raised as an issue that she did not know how to do something.

So it can be misused and it’s arsey when it is.

My favorite bit of mansplaining was when I was pg and a man explained to me that giving birth was not painful, but like running a marathon. He had never run a marathon either. If he had, he’d know it hurts!

You haven't pointed out the the term is sexist, though. You've just stated it, as your opinion, as if it is self evident. What is your explanation for it being sexist, in your opinion?

If someone is mansplaining at you in a professional environment, when you contact your management or HR to deal with it, simply refer to it as misogynistic patronising comments. No need for the informal term "mansplaining" if you think it's too casual for the workplace.

Except that it’s usually being used to describe the kind of highly problematic, yet deeply entrenched, behaviour where a man talks down to his female colleagues.

That's the excuse used for calling people Karen. In my experience both are more often used as lazy put-downs.

Most stereotypes have some basis but if you call people pejoratives based on those stereotypes you will rightly get thought of as a [characteristic]ist.

TL;DR By all means discuss the phenomenon of mansplaining but, when criticising individuals, talk in specifics and be thoughtful, rather than perpetuating simplistic stereotypes.

Yes dear, you keep taking the dried frog pills.

😂😂😂

Mansplaining is a term for
a behaviour though.

Karen refers to someone’s entire being and character.

So telling someone to stop mansplaining is not the same as calling them ‘a Karen’.

What makes you think anyone here would use it in a professional environment? But thanks for the heads up 🙄

Anyone offended by it would be justified in raising it with their HR department.

OK. You try doing that. See what happens.

Yet the same women are happy to womensplain to men.

😂

Thanks for mansplaining that to us

But if someone accused of being a mansplainer took it to HR they would have to explain that their original behaviour was sexist to begin with, which is why they were called that. Or do you think they would plead the 5th?

Good distinction.