An introduction to the "Thanks, but I already know" moments
Mansplaining – for many, it's just a carelessly thrown-together buzzword. It's a term composed of "man" and "explaining," describing the tiresome situation where a man explains something to a woman unprompted, even though she's already very familiar with the topic. It doesn't refer to the friendly, helpful explainer, but rather the intrusive know-it-all who, for some inexplicable reason, feels compelled to share his knowledge with us. Typical characteristics include an authoritarian attitude, a denial of expertise, and lengthy monologues that leave no room for disagreement.
Why is this annoying? Because it ignores knowledge, demonstrates power, and questions women's competence. A prime example is when a man "explains" to a woman how HER menstruation works or how HER experience with sexual harassment should be categorized.
Why men explain what women already know
The roots of this, unsurprisingly, lie in patriarchy and the accompanying notion that women systematically lack knowledge. Historically, this manifests itself in a wide variety of patterns, but they all have one thing in common: male authority coupled with the questioning of female expertise .
Studies show, for example, that women are interrupted about 33% more often than men, particularly in professional contexts. Mansplainers tolerate no contradiction and dominate monologues, regardless of how qualified their counterpart is.
The Hidden Bias
As if it weren't bad enough that many men speak up when it's not their place, there are also several psychological tricks that make it harder for women to be taken seriously. For example , deep voices are perceived as more authoritarian , while high voices (typically feminine) are taken less seriously. Or if we look at the so-called "pretty privilege," we have to acknowledge that this applies, at least in a professional context, only to men. While attractiveness increases a man's credibility, "beauty" in women is often associated with "stupidity." Mansplaining plays right into these cognitive biases: men appear (falsely) more competent and are then reinforced in the feeling that this is actually true.
“Self-mansplaining” through socialization
If a woman is confronted with such behaviors her entire life, in the worst-case scenario, it can lead not only to her downplaying these behaviors but to internalizing them so deeply that she submits to and conforms to the system—the so-called imposter syndrome . Socialization often forces women into a defensive position and reinforces the tendency to downplay their own competence and achievements. Women often apologize before explaining something ("I might be wrong…"), even though they are the experts. This pattern is perceived as "normal" by society, and every woman, no matter how emancipated, probably has to admit (ourselves included) that we've all started an email with: "I'm not sure, but could it be that…" not because we were actually unsure, but simply because that's how we were taught.
No to mansplaining
For those interested in the topic of mansplaining and wanting to raise awareness about it in everyday life, we offer cool designs that address this very issue. Our "No Shit" shirts, sweaters, bags, and more are perfect for humorously and confidently setting boundaries, sparking conversations, and highlighting gender stereotypes.
Takeaways
- Identifying characteristics: Authoritarian attitude, monologues, denial of expertise
- Self-confidence needs clarification: Women are systematically interrupted more often; the tables must be turned.
- Biases make it extra difficult: Biases (deep voice, Pretty Privilege) make men (unfairly) appear more authoritarian and competent.
Sources (as of December 13, 2025):
Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes - Geschlechterdiversität in Beschäftigung und Beruf
Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes - Diversity-Prozesse in und durch Verwaltungen anstoßen: Maßnahmen zur Herstellung von Chancengleichheit
Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend - Sexismus im Alltag
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology - Meta-accuracy and relationship quality: Weighing the costs and benefits of knowing what people really think about you.
Scienceholic - The Psychology Behind Pretty Privilege
Otto von Guericke Universität Magdeburg - Imposter Syndrom
SSRN Electronic Journal - Sounds Like a Winner: Voice Pitch Influences Perception of Leadership Capacity
American Scientist - How Voice Pitch Influences Our Choice of Leaders
