Impact of mansplaining on democracy under spotlight

Mansplaining and its specific impact on women of colour is the focus of a new grant awarded to Dr Laura Montanaro, from our Department of Government.

First coined more than 15 years ago, the term mansplaining has become more mainstream in recent years and is defined as the act of explaining something to somebody needlessly and overbearingly.

“Lots of people in society mansplain to each other – from men to women and women to women, to old people to young people,” said Dr Montanaro. “But the reality is that mansplaining, like being interrupted, is something that happens to women most often. The underlying message is that their knowledge and expertise are not taken seriously.”

Taken in isolation, explained Dr Montanaro, mansplaining may seem a relatively trivial issue as most people “have all probably been exposed to that patronising tone at one time or another”.

“But when placed in the context of social inequalities, its significance changes. It is not merely a matter of rudeness – it poses problems for who gets to speak, and who is listened to,” she said.

“Imagine a group of mansplainers: everyone talking, no one listening. Shutting down someone’s expertise and authority poses real problems for knowledge and deliberation in a democracy.”

As part of the 14-month Leverhulme Research Fellowship, Dr Montanaro will carry out in-depth, one-to-one interviews with 15-20 women who hold influential positions in society, such as heads of non-governmental organisations and Members of Parliament.

Her project will explore how they experience mansplaining, how they respond to it, and how these experiences shape their political confidence and public voice.

“If mansplaining repeatedly undermines women’s expertise and authority,” explained Dr Montanaro, “it may also erode their sense of political efficacy - the feeling that their voice matters - and discourage participation. Understanding this connection is crucial for any democracy that values equal representation.”

Dr Montanaro added: “The interviews will help get the sense of how women deal with the experience of being constantly undermined due to mansplaining. So, for example, what does this mean for confidence in their job or political views?”