When person A (someone of any sex or gender) attempts to explain something to person B in an area of person B's expertise. Often this happens in a arrogant and condescending way because person A has the assumption that he/she/they are more logical or smart than person B, even though person A has spent far less time contemplating the subject and doesn't know more about it than any other layperson.
Person B: Throughout a considerable portion of my life I've struggled with depression.
Person A: You should just think positive! Depression is simply the result of negative thinking.
Person B: It's not that simple. I know this isn't the solution not only through personal experience, but I also wrote my dissertation around this subject, as you are well aware. You should look up 'mansplaining' so you'll realize that this kind of behavior isn't helpful--it will just make people roll their eyes at you.
Person A: You should just think positive! Depression is simply the result of negative thinking.
Person B: It's not that simple. I know this isn't the solution not only through personal experience, but I also wrote my dissertation around this subject, as you are well aware. You should look up 'mansplaining' so you'll realize that this kind of behavior isn't helpful--it will just make people roll their eyes at you.
by catacombcat October 01, 2015
When a male incorrectly assumes that he knows more about a topic that the other person in a conversation, usually a younger woman. Then, proceeds to explain the topic in a condescending tone, as if the other person has no knowledge on the topic and is generally ill-informed.
by urbanannie June 15, 2017
1) When a man who has no expertise in something tells a female, who is an expert how something works, is, or came to be. 2) When a man repeats what has just been said by a woman and presents it as his own idea 3) when men can't stand anything that questions their egos and thus change the meaning of terms so they don't look like idiots.
Mainspaining
1) Can you believe that man who knows nothing about math physics, or engineering just mansplained the woman who works at NASA on how rockets work?
2) When men steal ideas and words out of the mouth of women and then proceed to present them as their own in a condescending manner that's mansplaining
3) He then proceeded to define mansplaining to her.
1) Can you believe that man who knows nothing about math physics, or engineering just mansplained the woman who works at NASA on how rockets work?
2) When men steal ideas and words out of the mouth of women and then proceed to present them as their own in a condescending manner that's mansplaining
3) He then proceeded to define mansplaining to her.
by Not a mainsplainer March 11, 2017
When a man attempts to explain to a woman her own job/ idea back at her then gets offended because they don't understand how smart they are. Often used as a term by women to try to explain to men how offensive and derogatory this behaviour is, but taken personally by insecure men who are afraid of treating women equally with respect. These men typically try to use Feminism - the belief that women should be treated with equality - as a bad word. The fact that being sexist is just as bad as being racist is not likely to occur to mansplaining men.
"She said I was mansplaining but I was just stating an idea I had - not sure where it came from, she was talkin ga minute ago about something, but you know women..always talking or nagging."
by Reallyareyouthatinsecure June 11, 2017
by lolasalamander May 06, 2022
mansplaining, is when a man takes the opportunity to prove his existence in a conversation and give himself a pat on the back when talking about something personal to a woman as if he knows her life more than she does, as if he knows what's best for her more than she does.
Woman:"Sorry, I feel really down right now, I'm not in the mood for going out"
Man mansplaining:"I don't believe you're really sad, I think your sadness comes from your own perception of your life, you are seeking this sadness, consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, I don't think you should think about all this because if you're sad, then certainly you have decided it, I won't make this longer, but I think this is really bad for you and everyone surrounding you, including me".
Man mansplaining:"I don't believe you're really sad, I think your sadness comes from your own perception of your life, you are seeking this sadness, consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, I don't think you should think about all this because if you're sad, then certainly you have decided it, I won't make this longer, but I think this is really bad for you and everyone surrounding you, including me".
by seriously-no-hate June 21, 2017
Attempting to explain away making sexual passes on a young lady when you're a married professional in the comics industry, aka Brian Wood. Afterwards you continue to go on and act like you're a feminist and really respect women.
Mansplaining - Tess Fowler is correct about this: I did make a pass at her at SDCC Hyatt bar roughly 8 years ago. But when she declined, that was the conclusion of the matter for me. There was never a promise of quid pro quo, no exertion of power, no threats, and no revenge. This was at a time in my career when I had very little professional power or industry recognition. The pickup was a lame move, absolutely, and I’ll accept the heat for having done it, but that’s all it was: I liked her, I took a chance, and was shot down. I immediately regretted it, and I apologize to Ms. Fowler for the tackiness and embarrassment of it all.
I’ve kept quiet for these last couple weeks because this is a problematic thing to address without unintended blowback. While I believe she is as incorrect as she can be about what my intent and motivations were, I don’t want to encourage any negative opinion directed back at her.
I think the larger issues of abuse in the comics industry are genuine and I share everyone's concerns. As a father to a young daughter showing an interest in making her own comics, I do really care about this stuff. So I don’t want our difference of accounts to take attention away from that industry-wide discussion that needs to happen.
Brian Wood
11/15/2013
I’ve kept quiet for these last couple weeks because this is a problematic thing to address without unintended blowback. While I believe she is as incorrect as she can be about what my intent and motivations were, I don’t want to encourage any negative opinion directed back at her.
I think the larger issues of abuse in the comics industry are genuine and I share everyone's concerns. As a father to a young daughter showing an interest in making her own comics, I do really care about this stuff. So I don’t want our difference of accounts to take attention away from that industry-wide discussion that needs to happen.
Brian Wood
11/15/2013
by Zephyr Q November 16, 2013