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Author: Raine    Date: 05/12/2016 13:04:23






Here is the best-known origin of the term mansplaining.


That was April 2008 and it struck a chord. It still seems to get reposted more than just about anything I’ve written at TomDispatch.com, and prompted some very funny letters to this site. None was more astonishing than the one from the Indianapolis man who wrote in to tell me that he had “never personally or professionally shortchanged a woman” and went on to berate me for not hanging out with “more regular guys or at least do a little homework first,” gave me some advice about how to run my life, and then commented on my “feelings of inferiority.” He thought that being patronized was an experience a woman chooses to, or could choose not to have–and so the fault was all mine. Life is short; I didn’t write back.


I post this because yesterday, a male friend of the Stephanie Miller show took much umbrage at being called out for suggesting that Candidate, former first Lady, Former Senator and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton try dressing, looking and acting differently. Here is the defense he posted on his Facebook Page:
Well that was interesting. A heated debate on Stephanie Miller with Sue from Rockville because I made the suggestion that Hilary needs to work on her branding and perhaps look at different wardrobe choices- look like a Cross Fitter and not so Equinox.Unfortunately, this election cycle has little to do with substance. Sue started her argument with, "Carlos, let me do a little "Mansplaining". Well, that patronizing and condescending tone did not rest two seconds with me. My yelling over her was not the most effective way of communicating (however I do find the Brits have more of a stomach for it than we do # Speakers Corner/Hyde Park OR Parliament) but neither is the assumption that just because I may not like Hilary as our Democratic choice as much as Bernie-or saying she needs to work on her brand- does not equate to misogyny. Yeah, Elizabeth Warren! Deirdre was upset but in the end Helen had my back.
He actually suggested that HRC dress more like Elizabeth Warren and showed a picture of the Senator. From there he declared that maybe more of a neckline and something about collars and it went on and on. When he was asked to apologize it basically was stated that he was a guy and he treated Sue like a man and that is why he won't apologize to her.

Nope, no patriarchy there. (do I need to add a sarcasm thing here?) We all have to be like men if a man feels like he was treated badly.

He didn't want to hear how he was making people uncomfortable. It wasn't funny.

He declared on the air to another woman 'Sorry, It's just the way it is'.

That a problem. It's a problem because only people who want it that way will declare it so, and sadly, many times it is a man deciding whether sexism exists because that's the way it is.

The following video is funny, sad and true, and it doesn't have to be this way. It doesn't matter who you support. This is an issue that is larger than partisan politics.



It about how our children are being raised and how we all subtly teach them this behavior. One more , again from Jimmy Kimmel.



From the essay I linked above:

The battle with Men Who Explain Things has trampled down many women–of my generation, of the up-and-coming generation we need so badly, here and in Pakistan and Bolivia and Java, not to speak of the countless women who came before me and were not allowed into the laboratory, or the library, or the conversation, or the revolution, or even the category called human.


Thanks for listening.

and

Raine
 

17 comments (Latest Comment: 05/12/2016 16:39:46 by Raine)
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