Skip to content
Infano-logo
  • Health & Fitness
  • Sexual Health
  • Mental Health
  • Periods
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • PCOS
  • HerStory
  • Campaign
  • Download App
  • pink-search-icon
    • Close
Infano-logo
  • Health & Fitness
  • Sexual Health
  • Mental Health
  • Periods
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • PCOS
  • HerStory
  • Campaign
  • Download App
  • pink-search-icon
    • Close
  • Health & Fitness
  • Sexual Health
  • Mental Health
  • Periods
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • PCOS
  • HerStory
  • Campaign
  • Download App
  • pink-search-icon
    • Close

Mansplaining

Written By: Infano
January 30, 2021

Highlights

  • A relatively new word, but has existed since ages
  • What causes men to “mansplain”?
  • Should Women react to Mansplaining?
  • Quick Read
  • Full Read

Rhea was driving back with her husband on the way back from a party at their friend’s house a few kilometers away. Raj was sitting beside her and offering driving tips – “The traffic light is turning red. STOP!”,” Slow down; you are approaching the junction”. To top it all, when they neared home he said, “Straight and on the right”. For God’s sake, that’s been their home for the past five years and Rhea drives to work and back home alone almost every day.

Spread the love

Rhea was driving back with her husband on the way back from a party at their friend’s house a few kilometers away. Raj was sitting beside her and offering driving tips – “The traffic light is turning red. STOP!”,” Slow down; you are approaching the junction”. To top it all, when they neared home he said, “Straight and on the right”. For God’s sake, that’s been their home for the past five years and Rhea drives to work and back home alone almost every day.

Sapna was watching a cricket match with her boyfriend on a Saturday evening. In response to a target of 230 runs, our team was 205/8 in 48 overs. This was the opportunity that Anil took to explain to me how the game is poised right now and that we needed to make 25 runs in 12 balls to win. Sapna had been watching cricket since her childhood.In fact, Sapna and Anil had together watched many games in the past!

On a coffee break with the colleagues at work, the topic of conversation was about labour pains and child-birth. Saurav was telling Gunjan that child birth was not that difficult because women earlier used to work in their homes and fields right after child-birth. Gunjan had just joined back after her maternity leave and had gone through 18 hours of labour during child-birth, which left her exhausted for weeks.

The girl gang was discussing periods and menstrual cramps in the college canteen. Simran’s boyfriend announced that menstrual pain is all in the mind. If you do not think about it, it’s not going to hurt. Really? Simran twitches in pain every month.

These incidents or similar ones are very common among men and we have a term to describe it – Mansplaining.

A relatively new word, but has existed since ages

The term “Mansplaining” can be credited to Rebecca Solnit who in her 2008 essay called “Men Explain Things to Me: Facts Didn’t Get in Their Way”, recounted the time a man explained a book to her without acknowledging that she herself wrote it. Solnit did not use the word mansplaining in the essay, just explained the concept. Over the years the term was picked up and popularised by feminists across the world to explain the common frustrating occurrences in daily life that Solnit describes as “something every woman knows”.

Mansplaining is a combination of ‘man’ and ‘explaining’. The Oxford English Dictionary describes mansplaining as “(of a man) explain (something) to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing”. Mansplaining, in simple words, can be described as “the practice of a man explaining something to a woman in a way that shows he thinks he knows and understands more than she does.”

What causes men to “mansplain”?

Mansplaining may not appear to be a very big problem. It can easily be brushed off as funny, sometimes annoying and sometimes boring. But it points out a much deep-rooted problem in the society – the presumption that a woman will be less knowledgeable, less competent and somehow in need of a man to explain things to her. “Helping out” a woman comes naturally to men because our patriarchal society has embedded in them the feeling that they are superior to women and they need to care of them. 

Does this affect a woman? Of course, it does. The constant interruptions and unsolicited suggestions, as Ms. Solnit notes, “crushes young women into silence” by telling them “that this is not their world.” She adds, “It trains us in self-doubt and self-limitation just as it exercises men’s unsupported overconfidence.”

Should Women react to Mansplaining?                  

Girls are taught since childhood to act pleasant, be polite and to not embarrass men. They are expected to be a pleasant audience when a man is talking and not to interrupt it. The reverse however, does not hold true. Women in several areas of life tend to play down their achievements or knowledge so that they do not hurt a man’s ego. When a woman objects to mansplaining, it is usually perceived as being rude and lacking appreciation. It is unacceptable because it is seen as an attempt to change the society hierarchy which confers the man as the default authority in a conversation. This society hierarchy has to change. Women should proudly accept and celebrate their success and achievements, just like men. Women should be able to voice their thoughts and opinions, likes and dislikes, just like men. Women should be treated and accepted as equals. So, women definitely need to speak up against unwarranted mansplaining, because as they say,

“You can forgive them for their ignorance, you can’t for their arrogance.”

They do not even know they are mansplaining

Many times, men do not even realize that they are “mansplaining” and do not do it on purpose. Their intention, in many cases, may not be to demean a woman.  A tweet by Kim Goodwin went viral a couple of years back, where she created a simple flow chart for her male colleagues who wished to understand if their behaviour could be classified as mansplaining. This can also be a handy reference to women who are told by men that their intention was only to “help” and “improve” them in an attempt to defend mansplaining and to men who just do not realize it.

(Credit: Kim Goodwin)

I have had more than one male colleague sincerely ask whether a certain behavior is mansplaining. Since apparently this is hard to figure out, I made one of them a chart. pic.twitter.com/7DZ1RTrB3R

— Kim Goodwin (@kimgoodwin) July 19, 2018

Is this too trivial to address?

Compared to the many other issues prevalent in the society, Mansplaining might seem not too serious. But it’s the small changes in our outlook that will help create a gender-equal society in the future. That’s our hope and dream, isn’t it?

arrogancebehaviourdominatemansplainingoverconfidenceunpleasant

Infano

Infano is a platform that aims to impact every facet of a woman's life - health, career, motherhood, lifestyle, and much more. We are a team of like-minded individuals who wish to be a support to women from all walks of life and in everything they do. Our aim, through our posts and articles, is to bring to light the issues and problems that women face in their day-to-day life, to try and make their life a little easier and a little better, provide the latest news updates of women around the world, and to highlight their big and small achievements. We celebrate womanhood each and every day.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Infano Care

Passion To Profession — Meet The Sister Duo Who Left Their Cushy Jobs To Start Their Art Ventures!

Written By: Sonali
November 8, 2020 | 08:44 PM |
2,220
  • Full Read
Spread the love

They say your sibling would always be your first best friend — no matter what, they will always get your back!

When a dear friend of mine shared a post with me on Instagram quoting “do chukti Sanskaar, society anusaar!”, I was compelled to check the entire profile!

What followed was a series of some rebellious and satirical posts displaying few amazing customised products and heartfelt words. The brain behind this intriguing profile is an ecstatic and empathetic woman who wish to change the society with her arts and words.

Her sister, on the other hand, is an emotive craft maker who finds joy in small unwanted things and converts them into beautiful art pieces. Oh, and she loves poetries more than her desserts!

This story is about two sisters — Noopur Mishra & Neha Mishra — who dared to leave their cushy jobs to do what they love and change how society looks at others’ through their art venture.

Noopur & Neha were born in Punjab and were brought up in different parts of the country — being army kids they were pro at settling down at new places and making new friends. They belonged to a disciplined but independent life and were always taught to follow their hearts.

Noopur Mishra, a NIFT Chennai graduate, has spent most of her life in Punjab, Hyderabad, Assam, and Gujarat and started her career as a Visual Designer in 2016 with Landmark Group.

She always loved writing stories/ poems on situations revolving around her. Two years back when she left her job to pursue her love for stories-making, she landed on another job in Chennai — which took her back to her college days, and she met several people who inspired her to do what she loved. And again, she quitted her job, went back to her parents’ place for a leap.

“During this time, I got back at doodling and drawing and realised that this is what I loved the most. I did it more, learnt digital illustration via YouTube, and started using my Instagram profile to put my artwork with my words and stories; and that’s how ‘Drapes & Thoughts’ was born. One of my artworks got really popular and hit the audience too hard, and few people pinged me asking if I can print those and give it to them. That’s when the idea of starting this venture came to my mind. I started putting all my artwork on different products, and people were kind enough to show so much love for that,” says the 28YO digital artist.

Most of Noopur’s works are statement products which address and stand against societal issues, “I started off with less investment as I wasn’t sure how well would it go, but now that the response is great, I plan to scale it up even more. This venture taught me that one won’t know the outcome until s/he don’t start — eventually, you learn on the way!”

“As an artist,” Noopur says “one must responsibly use their voice and art for things that matter. Society needs more artists who can enlighten people through their art and people, at the same time, should understand that artistry is not some fancy job or hobby — it pays our bills, and it takes a part of ours every time we end up creating something new!”

Noopur urges other aspiring artists to ignore chaar logon ki baatein and follow their heart, to keep creating and never stop being original. She believes that learning is a lifestyle which improves over time — just like her sister, Neha, who always thought of herself an average student but ended up in one of the best demanding industries.

“I was never a brilliant child, but always wished to do something different from the crowd. Challenged fascinated me, and it was only my tenth board exams when I became conscious of my studies and career. I somehow scored well and went on to complete my engineering in Automobiles. I always aspired to join the Indian Air Force but couldn’t clear the interviews and hence landed in Mahindra & Mahindra Automobile as GAT (sales & marketing)”, Neha Mishra shares.

While working with M&M, she realised that she didn’t complete her engineering to work into marketing domain. “I wanted something real — which could keep me closer to the production lines but back then, girls were rarely seen into production plants, and I quit M&M,” says the lady who has performed poetry in more than 100 events and published a book on Kindle.

“I have always been a stage person since childhood, so I did my masters in event management and went on handling several small & big events, fashion shows, destination weddings, launch events, literature fests, corporate events etc. I joined marketing agencies and kept working, and between all this, I never stopped attempting for the Indian Armed Forces. I tried until my last attempt, and I’m glad that I never gave up. I kept doing open mic events and poetries until I got married. And even after that, I continued doing art and craft in my leisure time. I used to take small orders from friends and family for customised gifts, and it was then that my family and in-laws convinced me to start something of my own,” says the founder of Atrang Art which specialises in sustainable and customised gifting.

People these days spend a lot of money on buying gifts for their loved ones, but Neha believes that a gift is worthless unless you invest a bit of your time and heart into it. “I focus more on customised gifts/ products so it can have a personal touch,” she continues. Patience and practice is indeed a huge investment, according to her. “I prefer sending out a product that speaks quality, and hence the raw material cost is huge for me. The profit hugely depends on the final product and the agreed cost by the customer as people negotiate a lot when it comes to handmade products,” Neha shares that she learnt a lesson that no matter what, one must be firm about products’ pricings and be confident their quality & USP.

She later to plans to open her own studio with handcrafted products. In the end, she says that one must not stop due to age/ condition/ situation. “People told me that marriage would change my life, yes it did but in a better way. I’m more confident and strong now,” she concludes.

The duo believes that the biggest challenge for artists these days is recognition. People don’t really value handmade products and find the costings too high — they fail to see the hard work and precision behind it. But despite all, they encourage to do that really makes you happy from within.

Life is all about learning and unlearning and for that every experience matters. So keep moving!

This amazing sister duo has turned their passion into a profession and is doing some amazing work out there. Share your love and support them. You can find Drapes & Thoughts and Atrang Art on Instagram. Click here to read more stories from our #PassionToProfession series.

artfeminisminfanowomeninspirationpassPassion To Professionstartupswomen empowermentwomen power

Sonali

A 'non-9-5 desk job' ambivert geek who chooses her own audience, Sonali loves sharing stories and finding the corners where humanity still exists! She believes that every individual's story is unique and special. She loves writing about the untouched and unspoken segments of society. When not writing, you can find her listening to someone's stories or playing with dogs. Sonali values mental health and encourages people to speak their heart out!

Related Posts

Social 3 mins Read

India’s Inherent Misogyny: How Sonia Gandhi Was Ridiculed As A Bar Dancer!

Written By: Sonali December, 11 2020 | 10:52 AM
Social 3 mins Read

Criminalising Marital Rape: Why Is India Against It?

Written By: Sonali February, 27 2022 | 04:30 PM
Social 7 mins Read

Dear Women, Do You Know the Sexual Harassment Laws?

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin February, 18 2021 | 12:54 PM
Social 4 mins Read

Marriage Should Not Mean The End Of A Woman’s Career

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin November, 11 2020 | 03:43 PM
Social 4 mins Read

Everything is Fine, Yet I Want a Divorce

Written By: Infano January, 19 2021 | 02:47 PM
Sexual Health 2 mins Read

How to know if your partner is a Narcissist?

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin January, 21 2021 | 12:44 PM
Social 4 mins Read

Menstruation 101: Reality Of Period Practices In Rural India

Written By: Infano May, 27 2020 | 09:55 AM
Parenting 3 mins Read

Here is all you needed to know about the POCSO Act

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin January, 26 2021 | 12:24 PM
Social 4 mins Read

#KnowYourRights: Laws That Protect Women And Their Rights!

Written By: Parvez November, 10 2020 | 06:22 PM
Social 3 mins Read

The Gandhiwad On Women Empowerment!

Written By: Sonali October, 2 2020 | 11:11 AM
Body Positivity 2 mins Read

Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Does It Matter Who Is The Fairest Of Them All?

Written By: Infano October, 27 2020 | 05:31 PM
Social 3 mins Read

Surviving The Pandemic: How Sex Workers Are Coping!

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin June, 28 2020 | 03:50 PM
Social 3 mins Read

Celebrating Menstruating Goddess, This Kerala Temple Establishes Cultural Significance Of Periods In Modern World

Written By: Infano May, 28 2020 | 12:39 PM
Social 3 mins Read

#TimeToStop: Undermining Women, Their Legacies!

Written By: Infano May, 4 2021 | 05:20 PM
Social 3 mins Read

My story of molestation | Every Indian girl’s story

Written By: Shweta Suvarna February, 16 2021 | 01:44 PM
Social 4 mins Read

Man Arrested For Flashing At Bengaluru Based Writer!

Written By: Sonali November, 9 2020 | 11:32 PM

Subscribe to our Newsletter

To keep yourself updated with women-related news around the globe, articles, opinions, suggestions and exclusive offers that you should not miss, subscribe to our newsletter.

    Home | About Us | Contact Us | Terms & Conditions | Cancellations and Refund Policy | Privacy Policy
    © 2023 Infano Women's Health | Lifestyle | Success Stories • Powered by GeneratePress

    Insert/edit link

    Enter the destination URL

    Or link to existing content

      No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.