LET'S TALK ABOUT MANSPLAINING
Her World Singapore|December 2022
Women often find themselves at the receiving end of these condescending monologues, which can make the listener feel incompetent at best, and infantilised at worst. Why do men do it, and what can women do about it?
LET'S TALK ABOUT MANSPLAINING

It all begins innocuously enough. Malini* was at a party when an older family friend learnt that she was in graduate school studying poetry, and was interested in writing about the postcolonial experience and immigration.

Says the writer and editor: "He started to lecture me about postcolonial poetry, even though I was well-versed in the topic. I entertained it patiently, but sort of started second guessing what I knew.

"Nice guy, well-intentioned, but like most men, so sure of their expertise in everything." Sabrina*, a bird-watching enthusiast in her early 30s, would empathise. She was on one of her solo birding trips at the Singapore Botanic Gardens when she was accosted by an "uncle" in his fifties, who decided she needed some unsolicited advice.

"Here I am, waiting for a particular species of parrot to show up, and this person completely invades my space by standing incredibly close to me. He goes on to ask me about the camera I'm using and tells me what settings I should be shooting with.

"He then whips out his phone and starts showing me his shots, before proceeding to tell me what I should do with the photos I take, and how to edit them using Lightroom. I kept trying to ignore him, but it didn't work. Eventually, I got really annoyed and left to find another spot," says the social media strategist.

Sabrina muses that these encounters often occur when she is engaging in what is considered a "male dominated" activity, such as photography.

"This usually happens when I'm literally doing nothing but holding a camera. It's this assumption that women don't know or understand technical stuff like photography that drives me totally nuts," she adds.

WHY DO MEN FEEL COMPELLED TO MANSPLAIN?

Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av Her World Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av Her World Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA HER WORLD SINGAPORESe alt
What Are Some Watches That Double As Pieces Of Art?
Her World Singapore

What Are Some Watches That Double As Pieces Of Art?

The Bvlgari Fenice High Jewellery watch is a spell-binding expression of the Italian jeweller's audacious aesthetic.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Getting To The Seoul Of K-Beauty
Her World Singapore

Getting To The Seoul Of K-Beauty

The days of complex 10-step skincare routines may be behind us, but K-beauty's skin-first approach continues to dominate markets worldwide. Here's a closer look at the phenomenon.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
My Super Power Is Saying No
Her World Singapore

My Super Power Is Saying No

It's 2009, and some 1.67 million Singaporeans are tuning into the two-hour finale of the hit Chinese language series The Little Nyonya, transfixed by the multi-generational saga of three Peranakan families.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
New York State Of Mind
Her World Singapore

New York State Of Mind

Inspired by the Big Apple, Coach's new Times Square Tabby is an amalgamation of the city's love stories, both old and new.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
Building Safer Workplaces
Her World Singapore

Building Safer Workplaces

As an increasing number of workplaces are understanding the importance of mental health, we ask three leaders what it will take to move the needle to create environments where we can speak up, challenge the status quo, and have our needs met.

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2024
What Beauty Routine Should You Follow If You Have Eczema?
Her World Singapore

What Beauty Routine Should You Follow If You Have Eczema?

Quinn Chen, co-founder of Singapore beauty brand, Ice's Secret, answers.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
A Mid-Career Change Is Not A Crisis
Her World Singapore

A Mid-Career Change Is Not A Crisis

A mid-career switch, while daunting, can be the key to unlocking a more fulfilling and aligned professional life.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
It's Cool To Get Cold
Her World Singapore

It's Cool To Get Cold

Ice baths are popping up around Singapore, waiting for you to take the plunge.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
Will joining a breast cancer support group help me with my healing journey?
Her World Singapore

Will joining a breast cancer support group help me with my healing journey?

Emily Goh, senior medical social worker, answers.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
PASSION FOR A CAUSE
Her World Singapore

PASSION FOR A CAUSE

Rebellion of the academic sort - runs in Anna Yip's blood. The deputy CEO of Singtel Singapore tells us how self-love, confidence, and a passion for tech guide her as she leads one of the nation's most established telecommunications companies into the future.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024