We’ve all likely heard the term “mansplaining” at this point - when a man explains something to a woman in a condescending way, often oversimplifying something she already understands well. But mansplaining moves beyond just an irritating experience for women. Research illuminates deeper psychological consequences women experience receiving this kind of patronizing communication.
How Mansplaining Makes Women Feel
Studies find encountering mansplaining delivers a triple blow to women’s:
Confidence: After male colleagues explain basic concepts she grasps perfectly, a woman can begin questioning her own knowledge and abilities. Self-assurance takes a hit as she absorbs messages that imply: “you don’t really understand this topic” and “you need the help of a man to grasp this idea in full.”
Competence: Should she speak up about the true depth of her understanding, a woman often still fails to receive acknowledgment or credit for her expertise from a patronizing colleague. He persists in assuming his perspective holds more weight or truth. She feels unseen and her skills undervalued.
Autonomy: When not afforded respect for her existing capability, she loses autonomy as well. A woman’s independent thinking gets dismissed out of hand. She gets positioned as someone needing to learn and dependent on the mansplainer’s guidance to understand or progress.
Beyond depleted confidence, competence and autonomy, research also identifies anger, embarrassment, frustration and threats to personal identity as common emotional consequences. Additionally, being deeply undermined can also impact a woman’s sense of belonging and trust in her workplace or wider community.
Healing From Psychological Damage
So how can women heal from and mitigate psychological harm?
Seek community validation: Connecting with others who take your expertise seriously can be restorative. Therapists also help bolster self-worth.
Set boundaries: Practice declining unrequested explanations respectfully but firmly. Value your time and energy.
Remember competence: Note your accomplishments and abilities. Let confidence arise from within, not requiring external validation.
With self-compassion, community support and protective boundaries, we deny mansplaining power over our inner light. Our worth and expertise withstand these thoughtless assaults. And redirecting wasted energy serves something far more empowering - our dreams.
