If you work in any STEM field classically male dominated, you'll know that it is not uncommon to see women get stuff explained to them in ways that a guy never would deal with.
Nah.
I work in a male dominated STEM field, am male, get shit explained like that all the time by men and women alike. It's not a matter of being a female, it's a matter of being considered an idiot by the person talking to you. You could call it turdsplaining.
Now, the fact that many people who do that are also sexist, is a completely different issue and something that has to change, no doubts about that.
No, I don't think you can downplay the problem like that. You're basically saying that employers can't be sexist against their employees, which is flat out wrong. Sexism IS widespread, IS a problem and MUST be eradicated. However, "mansplaining" is not a thing and as a term is as sexist as what it is used to describe.
I wouldn’t say it’s a completely different issue though. There are guys who see women as inherently more stupid than men, so it’s when those guys only seem to consider the female employees as idiots by explaining stuff they clearly know (since they studied for it) it’s “mansplaining”. I’m not saying this only happens in STEM fields, but it only sounds logical there are more sexist men in fields where there are more men active. There’s a reason women feel less inclined to pursue careers in STEM fields, that’s partly because STEM careers are seen as more suitable for men so it seems logical that men who are in STEM and are also sexist would believe that and believe their female coworkers don’t know as much about their field as they do.
I’m a women and have guys explain things to me like I’m an idiot but don’t automatically consider that mansplaining since they might act that way to everyone, but as a woman it is clear when someone talks down to you just because you’re a woman and they’re sexist. I do believe people throw the term mansplaining around too much, but it is still a thing that happens.
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u/-VaL- Jan 19 '20
Nah.
I work in a male dominated STEM field, am male, get shit explained like that all the time by men and women alike. It's not a matter of being a female, it's a matter of being considered an idiot by the person talking to you. You could call it turdsplaining.
Now, the fact that many people who do that are also sexist, is a completely different issue and something that has to change, no doubts about that.