Mansplaining
ˈmanˌsplāniNG
NOUN
(informal)
the explanation of something by a man, typically to a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing:
"your response is classic mansplaining" [1]
I've laughed at this Twitter meme post since I first learned what mansplaining entailed. I first saw the meme on a private, health, nutritional, strength group social media site that contained a mixed bag of people from all walks of life globally. It was a fantastic group, and I have never seen its equal since.
The group was accepting, tolerant, global, outspoken, and comprised of physically and mentally strong influential women and men (I count my wife and daughter among these fantastic women). How the moderator was able to keep the peace, make the website uplifting, and do so to the point most considered it a safe place; seems a miracle in today's troll-filled social media environment.
Mansplaining isn't a joke, and the stories women talked about in the comment section were shocking and, in some cases terrifying. I wondered if I stooped so low as to mansplain things condescendingly. However, being aware of something is the first step to self-examination. I began to pay attention to everything I said and did when I attempted to explain things.
My biggest problem is I am a consultant. I consult in an industry where a mountain of confusing data permeates the news and the internet. I've consulted for over thirty years, and people pay me to explain this upside-down, confusing industry in a way that helps them achieve their goals.
After careful consideration, I paid close attention to ensure I explained things in a non-condescending manner. I even begin to ask permission to explain the more confusing parts. I believe this effort has paid a handsome dividend as meetings have been productive and beneficial to both parties.
I haven't given the mansplaining meme much thought over the past couple of years, and the strength group eventually succumbed to tighter and tighter requirements to keep the trolls at bay. When suddenly, last week, I became the victim of mansplaining.
When picking up our new travel trailer, which will be pulled by two different vehicles, my wife's truck has a hitch receiver that is 2.5" and rated up to 18,500 lbs. Linda needs the heavy-duty receiver because she often pulls horse trailers. The vehicle I use when towing has the standard 2" x 2" receiver.
With our old trailer, we kept a standard 2" x 2" hitch with a 2" ball that fit our old Rpod trailer; with the trailer and whichever truck was going to pull it, we would use the sleeve or not. Our new trailer will require 2 5/8" ball. In front of the salesperson, I mentioned that we would need a 2" x 2" hitch with a 2 5/8" ball and that we had a sleeve to allow the 2" x 2" hitch + sleeve to fit into the 2.5" receiver on Linda's truck. Linda had hoped to get a separate 2.5" hitch and ball, so she wouldn't have to mess with the sleeve and keep the more oversized hitch with her truck.
As Linda and I discussed the merits of having two different hitches, one for each vehicle, the salesperson interrupted as she explained, "turn the old hitch over, loosen the nut and washer to replace the old ball with a 2 5/8" ball to fit the new trailer."
Now, as a consultant, I've become very adept at keeping a straight face when asked the stupidest of questions; because a client doesn't know what they don't know. Our salesperson took my silence as a lack of understanding. And she began to dumb it down even more; I thought, "she is mansplaining how to change the ball on a hitch to me." My first thought was, "you shouldn't be mansplaining anything because you're not very good at it." However, getting a good dose of what it feels like to have something mansplained, I vowed to continue to be aware anytime I opened my mouth to explain something.
Reference
[1] [mansplaining meaning - Search](https://www.bing.com/search?q=mansplaining+meaning&form=ANNTH1&refig=1273f2795ddb4eaf90e45a7fff97e10a)