What exactly is mansplaining?   Mansplaining is when someone (usually a male) explains something to you with great confidence, mild condescension, and zero awareness that you already know this—often better than they do. It’s like getting a TED Talk you didn’t sign up for, delivered by a guy who just discovered the topic five minutes ago and is now your professor. How should you respond? When someone is mansplaining, a clear and direct response is often the most effective. Th