womansplaining

Womansplaining is a portmanteau of "woman" and "mansplaining." It describes a situation where a woman explains something to a man in a condescending or patronizing manner, often assuming he is ignorant or less knowledgeable about the topic. This behavior is considered the female equivalent of mansplaining.

The concept of womansplaining emerged as a response to the discussions around mansplaining, which focuses on men explaining things to women in a way that belittles their intelligence or experience. Womansplaining suggests that this dynamic is not exclusive to one gender and can occur when women exhibit similar patronizing behavior towards men.

Critics of the term argue that it can be used to dismiss valid criticism or feedback from women by labeling it as condescending. They suggest that the focus should remain on the problematic behavior of condescension itself, regardless of the gender of the person exhibiting it, rather than creating a parallel term. However, proponents argue that acknowledging womansplaining highlights the complexity of gender dynamics in communication and that women can also perpetuate unequal power dynamics in conversations.

The term is generally used informally and can be found in online discussions and social commentary. Like mansplaining, its usage often depends on the context and perceived intent of the speaker.