'Mansplaining'

[zoogs]

The sheer degree of resistance kind of illustrates the point.

But yes, let's absolutely go down the road of talking about women and their portrayal in popular culture. It's not going to flatter your side in this argument, even though media (TV moreso than cinema) tends to attempt to be more progressive. For starters, it's interesting that "chummy averageman husband who is the lovable, relatable protagonist" and "hypercapable woman" is viewed as evidence of equality. Can it be the other way around? Do protagonist women even get to be [with notable, trailblazing exceptions perhaps] average-looking dummies? (Reflects a larger aspect of society as well, and the role that looks plays)

 

[Kiyoat Husker]

No good reason, to be honest. Other than it's just the "term" used to describe that action/situation. 

I guess I would disagree that it is THE term used to describe that action.  There are certainly others just as apt.  Like: barter, haggle, bargain, etc.

My wife's family calls Brazil nuts "n!@@er toes".  Nobody really gets offended by it.  To them its quite harmless, but that's probably because they are all white and don't interact with many black people.

 

[teachercd]

Ah, I see. Yeah, it has to be habit. I'm familiar with the stereotypes and the jokes around it, but never seen that term or heard actually used in person. I'm kind of shocked that it is (well, also not shocked) -- it seems way, way across the line. And to your credit, it certainly doesn't seem like being able to use this term without pushback is something valuable or precious to you.

You have never heard that term used before in person?  Never?

That can't be true.  

 

[B.B. Hemingway]

I guess I would disagree that it is THE term used to describe that action.  There are certainly others just as apt.  Like: barter, haggle, bargain, etc.

My wife's family calls Brazil nuts "n!@@er toes".  Nobody really gets offended by it.  To them its quite harmless, but that's probably because they are all white and don't interact with many black people.

(I probably don't even what to open this door, but I will) Don't even get me started with the 'N' word. I've never made a habit of using the word (except when singing a lot to hip-hop music when I was in high school), but the way black people approach that word is among the most hypocritical approaches in our society. You (non-black person) can't ever utter that word. However, we'll (black people) throw it around freely, in an often endearing manner. 

Again, I have no desire to use that word. But if it's so terrible, and carries so much weight (and it does) why would they want to use it? It's insanely hypocritical, but it gets a pass because we'd hate to offend anyone.

(And before someone twist this around, this is not an argument to allow white people to say the 'N' word).

 

[Mierin]

Why the difference?

That's the question.

 

[BigRedBuster]

That's the question.

I guess my side of the question is....why do women feel their side of this equation is automatically demeaning?

Now, I fully understand that any sexual act can be demeaning to someone involved.  But, that has more to do with the attitude in the relationship than the actual sexual act.

So....why do women feel this is automatically demeaning while a man automatically feels our side of the equation is not?

 

[Ric Flair]

That isn't what this discussion is about, or what the term is referring to.

One of the requirements for something to be considered "mansplaining" is that the man assumes the woman is ignorant or stupid when it comes to the topic he's explaining to her, because she's a woman.

The situation you're talking about requires the man to be aware that the woman is ignorant about the topic because he took the time to find out whether she knows anything about it or not. In this case explaining is fine if he knows something about it.

So the assumption is that when a guy tries to be helpful and the gal takes offense, he's being an a$$ for assuming she doesn't understand? I've seen countless examples of women not getting something, but then taking offense when someone tries to educate them about it. There seems to be a correlation between being clueless and being clueless about the fact that one is clueless. Who knew?

The women freaking out about this need to relax. Between mansplaining, manspreading, and the whole host of things they have invented to take offense at, it's gotten pretty ridiculous.

 

[Landlord]

Look at the percentage of comedies have the husband or guy being the idiot and the woman is the smart/normal one.

Even in the sitcoms where the husband is a bumbling idiot and the wife is a smart, capable professional, which one is considered the main character? 

 

[Mierin]

I guess my side of the question is....why do women feel their side of this equation is automatically demeaning?

Now, I fully understand that any sexual act can be demeaning to someone involved.  But, that has more to do with the attitude in the relationship than the actual sexual act.

So....why do women feel this is automatically demeaning while a man automatically feels our side of the equation is not?

I don't know what you're talking about. Did you read the previous posts about this? Not trying to be rude but I'm not sure why you asked me the question - it doesn't make sense given what I said in my posts.

 

[BigRedBuster]

I don't know what you're talking about. Did you read the previous posts about this?

I'm strictly talking about the sentence that I quoted.

The entire issue of how the two terms are viewed when said, boils down to the underlying feelings about the sexual acts.

Why is one seen as a conquest and the other one demeaning.  

After all, if both sex acts are viewed the same, then calling one person a c***licker wouldn't be different than calling another person a c**cksucker.

 

[Mierin]

I'm strictly talking about the sentence that I quoted.

The entire issue of how the two terms are viewed when said, boils down to the underlying feelings about the sexual acts.

Why is one seen as a conquest and the other one demeaning.  

After all, if both sex acts are viewed the same, then calling one person a c***licker wouldn't be different than calling another person a c**cksucker.

Why did you ask me why women think it's demeaning?

 

[B.B. Hemingway]

So do you take issue with the term whitewashing? 

No, I don't. I've heard the term. Don't think it's really been that big of a deal in modern Cinema.

 

[ZRod]

No, I don't. I've heard the term. Don't think it's really been that big of a deal in modern Cinema.

Matt Damon in ancient China... Tom Cruise leading the Samuri last stand... 

This topic is genrally stupid. I read the first post and the last page. You should all apologize for wasting each other time, especially you teach, and move on with your lives.

Mansplaining and womansplaining are damn funny things when done tongue-in-cheek or good humor. But like anything else they are just stupid when they are meant to be demeaning or purposefully derogatory.

 

[zoogs]

Why, indeed, do we live in a world where "things women do" is used to demean other people but "things men do" is not? 

 

[teachercd]

I forgot about that Matt Damon movie...was it as terrible as the rumors claimed?