Why did you feel it was necessary to explain the basic principles of journalism to me? 

I’m asking because you’ve also just shared that journalism is not your major, and I’ve just shared it’s the discipline I’ve been studying for three years. 

I think I know the answer, though. 

Because – dear cis man – your behavior is not unique. Women, non-binary people and every other person the patriarchy doesn’t serve, are wearily used to your unsolicited advice.

The quantitative spread of mansplaining hasn’t been well studied, but at least 56% of women in a given workplace will experience mansplaining from a coworker like you, according to one survey.

Mansplaining happens when a cis man decides to explain something to a person who already understands the subject – generally in a condescending way – and is easily related to similar gender-based mistreatment. 

But don’t feel bad if you’re confused. Smile! Everyone has room to grow; I’ll explain how you can.

Actually, I’m quite well-acquainted with using a broom. 

Last summer, Savannah Eagon – a first-year English education major – worked as a movie theater employee, and in between shows, workers had about three minutes to clean theaters. 

Eagon recalled one coworker decided her sweeping needed his personal advice more than the theater needed a second cleaner. 

“He was, like, standing over my shoulder, telling me how to sweep, and I’m like, you could be sweeping the rest of this theater when you’re telling me this,” Eagon said. “It was so, it was, like, a condescending (tone) almost. It was like, he wasn’t yelling at you, but he was talking to me like I was six.”

Why do you do it, mansplainers?

Even if you don’t mean to be prejudiced, your mansplaining probably stems from an inherent bias against women and non-binary people. You enjoy the dominance and power of explaining, and your bias means you’re much more comfortable talking down to them than other cis-men.

You’re battling a mentality shaped by an entire human history of patriarchal norms, but I believe in you. Pull that head from the sand and believe in me. 

“I could say just like, ignore them, but I’m like, if you just ignore them, they’re just gonna keep doing it,” Eagon said. “If a man is mansplaining, you mansplain them back. Fight fire with fire.”

Assuming my incompetency displays your own.

As one of only a few women in her high school trades classes, first-year engineering major Ally Coker is no stranger to treatment like mansplaining. 

One classmate repeatedly made gender-biased comments throughout the class, remarking on Coker’s painted nails or accusing her of “flirting” during group discussion. Others acted surprised Coker knew the studied trades. 

“(They) could just not, couldn’t wrap their head around the concept of it, they were just, like, shocked that I could actually perform the skill,” Coker said.

When you speak to us that way, when your comments or “explanations” suggest we are helpless or less than, your misguided words – unfortunately – have power. 

Sometimes, they make our blood boil. Other times, they leave us hurt: Tired of feeling that we’ve been instantaneously judged and deemed incapable, and tired of having to prove ourselves once again, to you – of all people. 

The emotional impact of mansplaining can be severe, impacting self-confidence and job satisfaction, according to a 2022 study at Cambridge University.

“(I felt) insecure and put down,” Coker said. “Like, we don’t have a sense of belonging – basically the exact opposite. Where, I felt because those comments were being made, that everyone was thinking that, almost especially because I was only, like, one girl in that class.”

No, new barista hired last week, I – your shift captain – do not need you to explain how a macchiato is made.

I promise you’re making it wrong; two summers working at this cafe has earned me a certain mastery of our menu.

Maybe you don’t know you’re mansplaining. Maybe you are perfectly lovely most of the time and you have no misogynistic intentions. 

But if so, I’m sure you will try to learn from your mistakes – and that next time, you’ll stop to think “Is this necessary?” before you choose to speak to a full grown adult like they’re a child.

Oh, the customer sent your macchiato back? 

How embarrassing. Yes, I can make it the way they requested: It’s how I showed you the first time, which you insisted was flawed. 

Don’t you have dishes to do?