Definition:
When a woman attempts to tell a man how his brain works and what the motivations behind his various thoughts, words and actions are; in spite of the fact that her interpretations are based in her own hyper-sensitive paranoia; whilst his explanation is based on the fact that he knows what he meant better than she does.
Common traits in observation:
Most commonly observed after a woman accuses a man of misogyny for a typically irrational reason.
The womansplainer well never admit to a man that she is actively choosing the interpretation that most demonises him; no matter how contrived that interpretation may be. She may however, concede to a more intelligent and reasonable woman that she 'misunderstood' him; so as to risk further losing face, whilst denying personal accountability. However, the more juvenile womansplainer will pout and angrily declare that the more rational woman is 'a traitor to women everywhere!' for pointing out her stupidity and prejudice
When a woman attempts to tell a man how his brain works and what the motivations behind his various thoughts, words and actions are; in spite of the fact that her interpretations are based in her own hyper-sensitive paranoia; whilst his explanation is based on the fact that he knows what he meant better than she does.
Common traits in observation:
Most commonly observed after a woman accuses a man of misogyny for a typically irrational reason.
The womansplainer well never admit to a man that she is actively choosing the interpretation that most demonises him; no matter how contrived that interpretation may be. She may however, concede to a more intelligent and reasonable woman that she 'misunderstood' him; so as to risk further losing face, whilst denying personal accountability. However, the more juvenile womansplainer will pout and angrily declare that the more rational woman is 'a traitor to women everywhere!' for pointing out her stupidity and prejudice
Example:
Guy 1: God, that girl's stupid! Doesn't she know Barbie isn't a good choice of role model!
Girl: Typical man! Can't handle the threat of an iconic, confident female character! You have to demean it! Can't let young girls have self-confidence, can we!?
Guy 1:....Barbie dolls have unrealistic body proportions and encourage materialism and superficiality.
Girl: Yeah but...You just can't handle confident, happy women, can you!? Misogynist!
Guy 1: What!?.. how do you even!?...
Guy 2: Ignore her dude, she's a womansplainer.
Guy 1:ohhhhhhh...*ignores*
Guy 1: God, that girl's stupid! Doesn't she know Barbie isn't a good choice of role model!
Girl: Typical man! Can't handle the threat of an iconic, confident female character! You have to demean it! Can't let young girls have self-confidence, can we!?
Guy 1:....Barbie dolls have unrealistic body proportions and encourage materialism and superficiality.
Girl: Yeah but...You just can't handle confident, happy women, can you!? Misogynist!
Guy 1: What!?.. how do you even!?...
Guy 2: Ignore her dude, she's a womansplainer.
Guy 1:ohhhhhhh...*ignores*
by Quackers McKnightington July 3, 2012
Womensplaining (verb, gerund) describes the phenomenon of someone (usually a woman, but not always) behaving as though she has superior knowledge to someone else (often a man) who actually knows more about the topic in question than she does.
Male: "Men and Boys are often victims of domestic violence and sexism, just like anyone else"
Female "No they can't. Saying that men or boys can be victims is sexist and will only empowers sexism against women. You don't understand the basic power dynamics of domestic abuse or you would know that already."
Male "Stop womansplaining to me!"
Female "No they can't. Saying that men or boys can be victims is sexist and will only empowers sexism against women. You don't understand the basic power dynamics of domestic abuse or you would know that already."
Male "Stop womansplaining to me!"
by MrGeee April 17, 2018
(pronounced: woo m-uhn- spleyn)
-verb (used with or without object)
to give an explanation for the motivation behind a certain action or statement that has nothing to do with the current situation but rather is related to something else that has happened very long ago in the past
-verb (used with or without object)
to give an explanation for the motivation behind a certain action or statement that has nothing to do with the current situation but rather is related to something else that has happened very long ago in the past
Guy: "Why are you getting so angry? So I forgot to take out the trash today. Big deal!"
Girl: "The reason I'm so angry is because you always do stuff like this! Like the time we went to dinner and we ran into your ex-girlfriend, but you didn't introduce me! I felt so embarrassed and awkward but you didn't even care!"
Guy: "What??? What does that have to do with anything? Besides, that happened a year ago!"
Girl: "OMG, you are sooo frustrating! I shouldn't have to explain everything to you! You just don't get it!"
Guy: "Wow..."
Guy's Friend later at a bar after hearing the story: "Dude, you just got womansplained."
Guy: "Yep."
Girl: "The reason I'm so angry is because you always do stuff like this! Like the time we went to dinner and we ran into your ex-girlfriend, but you didn't introduce me! I felt so embarrassed and awkward but you didn't even care!"
Guy: "What??? What does that have to do with anything? Besides, that happened a year ago!"
Girl: "OMG, you are sooo frustrating! I shouldn't have to explain everything to you! You just don't get it!"
Guy: "Wow..."
Guy's Friend later at a bar after hearing the story: "Dude, you just got womansplained."
Guy: "Yep."
by Giant105 February 28, 2011
Taking longer to explain something than is necessary, going into too many details.
Expecting someone to be dumber than they are.
Expecting someone to be dumber than they are.
My mom was explaining something to me for 15 minutes, she could've stopped at the 2 minute mark. She totally womansplained!
by VadymK June 6, 2018
The equally asinine counter term to "mansplain," (of a woman) to explain herself in an overly complex or unnecessarily verbal fashion, usually in an attempt to try and make a point by looking smart, or because she simply can't stop talking.
My wife goes to book club and she always has to use a 6 syllable word every other word. I wish she'd stop womansplaining her stories to me.
by The New Age Sage October 29, 2017
(pronounced: woo m-uhn- spleyn)
-verb (used with or without object)
to give an explanation for the motivation behind a certain action or statement that has nothing to do with the current situation but rather is related to something else that has happened very long ago in the past
-verb (used with or without object)
to give an explanation for the motivation behind a certain action or statement that has nothing to do with the current situation but rather is related to something else that has happened very long ago in the past
Guy: "Why are you getting so angry? So I forgot to take out the trash today. Big deal!"
Girl: "The reason I'm so angry is because you always do stuff like this! Like the time we went to dinner and we ran into your ex-girlfriend, but you didn't introduce me! I felt so embarrassed and awkward but you didn't even care!"
Guy: "What??? What does that have to do with anything? Besides, that happened a year ago!"
Girl: "OMG, you are sooo frustrating! I shouldn't have to explain everything to you! You just don't get it!"
Guy: "Wow..."
Guy's Friend later at a bar after hearing the story: "Dude, you just got womansplained."
Guy: "Yep."
Girl: "The reason I'm so angry is because you always do stuff like this! Like the time we went to dinner and we ran into your ex-girlfriend, but you didn't introduce me! I felt so embarrassed and awkward but you didn't even care!"
Guy: "What??? What does that have to do with anything? Besides, that happened a year ago!"
Girl: "OMG, you are sooo frustrating! I shouldn't have to explain everything to you! You just don't get it!"
Guy: "Wow..."
Guy's Friend later at a bar after hearing the story: "Dude, you just got womansplained."
Guy: "Yep."
by giant105 March 14, 2011
To passive-aggressively suggest a motivation behind a certain action or statement that has next to nothing to do with the current situation or with reality generally, but which instead is related to another event or statement that took place days, if not weeks or years earlier.
While eating a meal cooked for me by my girlfriend, I asked why she seemed so bitter. She womansplained that she was upset with me for having refused her mother's offer for seconds on her caserole, 2 years earlier.
by don quixote454545 March 1, 2011