Manterrupting and mansplaining are both big problems in our society. First, let’s start by defining both terms. Manterrupting refers to unnecessary interruption to women from men. Mansplaining is when men explain something to a woman in a patronizing way. Many times, we notice leaders and positions of authority mansplaining and manterrupting to make themselves appear more powerful. An example of mansplaining would be when President Trump asked 2016, presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, if he could call her Secretary Clinton. He explained, “because I want you to be very happy”. President Trump talked to Clinton in a very degrading and patronizing way to make her seem weaker. Many times, men deliberately use methods like manterrupting and mansplaining to make women seem weak so they can assert dominance.
As a woman, it’s very frustrating to feel like I have to prove my intelligence to men. It’s very common for women in the workforce to be treated differently by men. Many times, men speak down to women and even underestimate our intelligence. Women have worked for years to earn respect and be taken seriously. When men purposely manterrupt and mansplain and talk in a patronizing manner, it’s not only disrespectful it’s also an insult to our intelligence.
When men have spoken to me in condescending tones, it has caused me to feel less confident and overall weak. Sometimes it’s difficult to stand up for yourself in certain situations because we don’t want to seem too sensitive and give off the impression that we are upset. However, for men to stop manterrupting and mansplaining, we have to speak out and call them out. Even though this can be difficult in some situations such as in professional atmospheres, we still have a right to feel respected. It’s difficult to see how common manterrupting and mansplaining has become in the media. We see it with leaders in society such as our president. However, as women, we have to remember our worth and speak out against unnecessary disdain.