‘Mansplaining’ hotline for angry women dubbed ‘sexist’, ‘divisive’

VICTIMS of so-called “mansplaining” in the workplace can now report it to a dedicated hotline, but men are not amused.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield was accused of “mansplaining” in Parliament. Picture: Kym Smith

DISTRESSED victims of “mansplaining” in the workplace can now report it to a dedicated union hotline.

Swedish women who believe they have fallen to victim to instances of sexist male colleagues explaining things to them in a sarcastic way are being offered advice and support.

Unionen, which represents 600,000 private sector workers, has set the advice line up in a bid to stamp out the scourge of what has been dubbed “mansplaining”.

The hotline will be manned by feminist politicians, comedians and scientists. They will advise angry women what action to take next, The Local reports.

But Swedish men were not amused, taking to the union’s Facebook page to complain about what they called a “sexist” and polarising campaign.

“How would women react if you used words like ‘old biddy chat’ or ‘female whining’? Equality can’t be won using negative invective, but should be built using mutual respect and partnership,” Daniel Bergman of Sundsvall wrote.

“Just what we need in society, more polarisation. And people wonder why right-wing populism is on the rise,” Jim Brännlund from Stockholm wrote.

Supporter Linda Landgren called it a “good initiative”. “Judging by the comments, it seems quite a lot of men feel this is aimed at them, so it shows how much this kind of work is needed,” she said.

Labor senator Katy Gallagher accused Communications Minister Mitch Fifield of ‘mansplaining’ in Parliament. Picture: Jason Edwards

‘MANSPLAIN IT TO ME’

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the “mansplain” as a verb meaning when a man explains something to someone, typically a woman, “in a manner regarded as condescending or patronising”. It gives the examples: “I’m listening to a guy mansplain economics to his wife” and “Apparently you can’t sell a second-hand car for as much as a new one. So glad he mansplained that to me”.

The term is in widespread use in Australia — including at Parliament House in Canberra, as The Australian reports.

In a fiery exchange in February, Labor Senator Katy Gallagher accused Communications Minister Mitch Fifield of “mansplaining” to her in an answer about cabinet process, which she found “patronising and condescending”.

“Thanks for the mansplaining,” Ms Gallagher said, in a quip that Mr Field labelled “sexist”.

“Imagine if I said you were womansplaining,” he said. “Stop being a hypocrite, conduct yourself appropriately for this place.”

The Swedish union defended its hotline, citing a study by the American Psychological Association, which found that men “tend to over-estimate their intelligence to a much greater extent than women”.

— With Dana McCauley

This article first appeared at The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as ‘Mansplaining’ hotline for angry women dubbed ‘sexist’, ‘divisive’