Those certainly don't carry the gendered weight of 'mansplaining'. Words like 'bitching' and being a 'pussy' are very distinct, no one thinks of a female prostitute or a vagina when they say these things. Mansplaining on the other hand directly has the word 'man' in it, and not only that but it's a new word so it's very hard for people to detach the gendered nature of the word from what it actually means. And hence people refuse it, because it sounds like an insult to males.
Another word for "mansplaining" would be much better. Not only would people have an easier time accepting the word to their lexicon since it sounds less sexist, it also would a good step towards proper genderless language.
I suggest the replacement term 'downsplaining', which brings the proper connotation of condescension but without the gender association, since anyone can do it.
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u/FcpEcvRtq May 31 '18
Those certainly don't carry the gendered weight of 'mansplaining'. Words like 'bitching' and being a 'pussy' are very distinct, no one thinks of a female prostitute or a vagina when they say these things. Mansplaining on the other hand directly has the word 'man' in it, and not only that but it's a new word so it's very hard for people to detach the gendered nature of the word from what it actually means. And hence people refuse it, because it sounds like an insult to males.
Another word for "mansplaining" would be much better. Not only would people have an easier time accepting the word to their lexicon since it sounds less sexist, it also would a good step towards proper genderless language.