Studies show that unwritten workplace rules cause miscommunication and disconnection. One example is “hey-hanging,” and another one is “mansplaining”—when a woman is condescended to by a man via explanation. No matter how trivial it may seem, communicating condescendingly shows how much or little we value those we speak with. A new study uncovers how often mansplaining occurs, four signs to look out for and the worst cities for workplace mansplainers.
New Findings About ‘Mansplaining’
Jeffbet conducted a survey of over 2,000 women across the U.S. about the mansplaining they regularly encounter, how often and where they encounter it, which topics men mansplain the most and their experiences dating and working with mansplainers. Key findings include the following:
- 56% of women have experienced mansplaining at work.
- The worst cities for workplace mansplainers are Portland, Oregon, Kansas City, Missouri and New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Work/careers is the number one topic women receive mansplaining about.
- 57% of women have been mansplained to about their jobs or career fields.
- 83% of women say they have more relevant experience than the mansplainers they encounter.
- Coworkers ranks number one for relationships in which women have experienced mansplaining most frequently in.
- Boss/Supervisor ranks number six.
4 Signs Of ‘Mansplaining’ To Look Out For At Work
Recognizing four signs is the first step toward addressing mansplaining, according to the study’s authors. “Whether you’re a woman sick of getting talked down to or a man who wants to avoid becoming one of those guys, being mindful of these behaviors can lead to more respectful and productive conversations,” they suggest.
- Explaining the obvious. “This isn’t just clarifying something; it’s belaboring the point to someone who has already demonstrated they understand. An example is a woman describing her work as a software engineer, only to have a man explain to her how coding works. It’s not only frustrating for the person on the receiving end, but also demeaning, implying a lack of competence based solely on gender. The urge to mansplain this way could stem from unconscious biases or ingrained social expectations about gender roles and expertise. The ‘mansplainer’ might even genuinely believe he’s being helpful, unaware of the condescending message he’s sending.”
- Interrupting to correct or clarify. “While interruptions can happen in any conversation, in mansplaining, they often derail the woman’s point to refocus the conversation around the man’s (often less informed) perspective. It manifests in phrases like ‘actually…’ or ‘well, technically…’ even when the woman’s statement is perfectly accurate. This behavior might come out of a desire to assert dominance or control the conversation, potentially driven by anxieties around maintaining a perceived social hierarchy. On the flip side, constant interruptions can make the ‘mansplainee’ feel silenced, invalidated and less eager to speak up in the future.”
- Patronizing tone and/or language. “This could include putting things in overly simple terms, speaking slowly and loudly as if addressing a child, or using dismissive and demeaning pet names like ‘sweetie’ or ‘honey’ in a professional setting. Language like this undermines a woman’s credibility and reinforces harmful stereotypes—which, in turn, reassures the mansplainer of his own self-superiority.”
- Ignoring or dismissing a woman’s expertise. “This insidious form of mansplaining happens when a woman with proven knowledge or experience on a topic is disregarded in favor of a man’s less authoritative opinion, just because, well, he’s a man. An example is a female scientist explaining her research, only to be dismissed by a male colleague who then offers his (incorrect) interpretation. This not only undercuts the woman’s professional standing—which may impact her career advancement opportunities and overall job satisfaction—but also perpetuates the notion that men are inherently more knowledgeable or capable.”
A Final Wrap On ‘Mansplaining’
The researchers of the study refer to Jeffbet’s discovery that over 56% of women encounter mansplaining at work, 54% of women encounter it within their families and 39% of women encounter it in their romantic relationships, makes it clear that this is a weekly issue affecting the majority of women in the U.S. “Topically, 59% of women have been mansplained to about their work or career field, with 83% of women affirming that they were more knowledgeable about their career than their male mansplaining counterpart,” the researchers point out.
“The common mansplaining women in our study experience about topics like politics (57%), philosophy (40%), finance (38%) and home maintenance (53%) only goes to show how prevalent this behavior is within our culture and how important it is for women to know the signs and call it out when they experience it,” the authors of the study conclude.