ONLOOKERS are uncertain how to respond after realising that a man mansplaining to a woman is in fact correct and entirely right to do so.
After data services intern Lucy, not her real name, made an error in a spreadsheet, manager Tom Logan explained her mistake in a manner which bystanders described as ‘condescending’, ‘patronising’ and ‘absolutely accurate in every respect’.
Co-worker Francesca, not her real name, said: “It deeply pains me to say it, but Tom is right. Lucy needs to hear this otherwise she’ll keep making the same mistake, and all the accusations of patriarchal entitlement in the world won’t change that.
“It’s a shame we can’t find another way to communicate the message to her, like if Tom was willing to talk through the medium of a glove puppet called Mr Wigglemuffins. Actually, maybe Mrs Wigglemuffins, as a male puppet might still be a bit sexist.
“Or perhaps we could get a female member of staff to repeat everything Tom says but in a much nicer, more encouraging tone. But is that just using a woman’s skills to make a man’s life easier? Christ, this is a nightmare.”
Tom, not his real name, said: “This is not mansplaining, as the definition only applies if the woman already knows more than the man and Lucy clearly doesn’t.
“So I will now explain to her, slowly and clearly, why she’s wrong about that too.”