Mansplainers and How to Deal With Them

Merriam Webster Dictionary added the word “mansplaining” back in 2018, which means “to explain something to a woman in a condescending way that assumes she has no knowledge about the topic.” 

In a world where patriarchy still dominates lots of fields, women have to deal with men speaking and giving them comments in such an overconfident way. Whether it’s intentional or unintentional or not, such language brings women down and can even lead to making the wrong decisions.

Enough being shut down, interrupted mid-explanation or viewed lowly; let’s break down just how one can deal with mansplainers and the concept itself. This brief guide can be applied to both your personal and professional life.

1 Stay calm and composed.

It can be easy to get angry and annoyed when someone mansplains you, changing up how they discuss things with you in contrast to their male companions or co-workers. However, that reaction only benefits them, and you can even use it to your disadvantage. So, regardless of how difficult it may be, maintaining your composure will not only promote mental clarity but also encourage maturity on your part. It’s not easy, but being the bigger person is always a great solution. Don’t stoop down to their level!

2 Keep tabs on them.

Having evidence to support your claim that someone is mansplaining can benefit you when reporting them. Don’t just rely on your memory because that can be something they can warp. Write down the dates, the times, and what exactly they said and did that degraded you.

3 Enforce your boundaries.

When you’re doing your own thing, like a hobby or work, someone may come up to try and correct you with the hidden intention that you’re wrong and all that. They’d want to feel superior regardless of how experienced you are in your craft. When that happens, you may nod at their comments but politely state that you know what you’re doing. You didn’t go through years of hard work not to, right?

But if they keep pushing, you may firmly tell them about your experiences in the field and that you don’t need (nor did you ask) for any adjustments from novices. Don’t let such a person rain on your parade.

4 Stay on track with your own goals.

Mansplainers want things to go their own way, and if they spot someone in the same space as them who has their own way of handling things, it would irk them, and they’d try to “fix it”.

Thus, when you face such people in your field, you may express your thanks out of politeness but also state that you have your fixed plan to focus on that is aligned with your aspirations.

5 Ask for help.

This tip is particularly applicable when you’re in a shared space, such as at work or the gym. When a mansplainer becomes persistent in giving you unsolicited advice or comments and won’t leave you alone, taking this issue to the higher-ups is the safest thing you can do. They’ll be the ones to do the deeper work if your own actions aren’t enough. It takes a lot of bravery to follow this tip, but in the process, you may also help other women who have fallen victim to the same person.

Whatever this common space may be, everyone should feel equally safe and at ease in it. And anyone who threatens it must go!

Takeaway

Nobody likes mansplainers, especially in this day and age. Thus, we hope this guide can give you the strength to face them in your own way and emerge stronger and better. Let’s make the world a much better place to live in and perhaps lessen the existence of mansplainers!

For more culture-related guides, head on over to the Lauvblog here.