The 'mansplaining' chart every man needs to bookmark
Chances are if you’ve worked in an office, identify as a woman and interact daily with men, you’ve at some point been the victim of ‘mansplaining.’
According to Google, the definition of ‘mansplaining’ is: ‘A man explaining something to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronising.’
While it’s less often intended to be malicious, the line between explaining and ‘mansplaining’ should be cautiously tread by the male gender worldwide. Some struggle to understand what constitutes ‘mansplaining’ and what doesn’t – so one Twitter user created a handy chart to guide men in question.
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
Writer and designer Kim Goodwin created the chart after having to explain ‘mansplaining’ to several of her colleagues. The flowchart, which breaks down several different situations, determines whether you’re ‘mansplaining’. The result is based on asking yourself a few, simple questions.
Response to the tweet has gone viral with more than 48,000 retweets and 117,000 likes. Goodwin’s followers are praising the writer for creating such a groundbreaking flowchart and begging for it to be posted everywhere.
Can i get this in a pdf to send to my coworkers? https://t.co/rBIXMPG5ag
— Little B (@biancahoran) July 21, 2018
This thread is gold and so are you. Also, you have the patience of a saint.
— Jennifer Boeder (@jenniferboeder) July 19, 2018
Isn't it just heartbreaking that FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND of us think this chart is useful enough to retweet it… :-/ But hurrah for little steps to beating #everydaysexism
ps: I'll also print a copy to have handy. Thanks!— Sarah Cornell (@SarahLizCornell) July 22, 2018
I would like this printed and placed in conspicuous places at work, like in every men's room. 😉 The picture in the tweet doesn't have your name. Will you plan to sell them?
— ~ Heather ~ (@TheMcCannski) July 22, 2018
Not all reactions were quite as accepting with many men dashing to the Twitter thread to defend – and ‘mansplain’ – themselves.
Why make this a gendered issue? What you are basically defining here is condescending behaviour that can happen in any human interaction, regardless of gender. I take offence at the sexist implication that this is a male oriented behaviour. #shesexist #notallmen #genderequity
— Derek Nankivell (@Derek_Nankivell) July 20, 2018
Based on this chart girls explain things to me without me asking… So maybe we should start accusing women of #womansplaining
— Shane Guymon 🦄 (@shaneguymon) July 20, 2018
So a man needs to ask “Would you like me to explain this to you?” Or a woman needs to ask for an explanation? Doesn’t work in the real-world. Knowledge is not shared in this manner. Also, it’s not about being ‘experienced’ but about competency, even if one is your junior.
— JayEye07 (@Jayeye07) July 19, 2018
Even despite the confrontation from men online, Goodwin’s tweet was well-received with a few men admitting to ‘mansplaining’ and describing how they are changing their ways.
We’d recommend laminating the flowchart if you are at risk and sharing it with colleagues daily.
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