Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Men Explain Things To Me summary
And Other Essays
12 mins
Brief summary
"Men Explain Things to Me" by Rebecca Solnit is a collection of poignant essays that tackle the issues of gender inequality and the mansplaining phenomenon. It sheds light on the systemic silencing of women's voices and provides a call to action for change.
Topics
Table of Contents
Men Explain Things To Me
Summary of 5 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 5
Men explain things to women because they think their knowledge and expertise is superior.
Have you ever found yourself listening to a man explain to you how things really are? If you’re a woman, you undoubtedly have.
Men often assume (perhaps unconsciously) that they’re more intelligent or knowledgeable than women, so they feel the need to teach them in a condescending or patronizing way. This is also known as mansplaining, a combination of “man” and “explaining.”
The New York Times dubbed “mansplaining” Word of the Year in 2010, and it had entered mainstream political journalism by 2012. The author didn’t invent the term, but she’s credited with popularizing it. She herself feels the word is a bit unclear, however, as it seems to imply that all men do this. Women do it too, though far less often.
Mansplaining occurs because of sexism and men’s arrogance regarding women’s knowledge, reliability and expertise.
Even an established writer like the author isn’t safe from this kind of subtle, everyday sexism. In fact, a man once interrupted her to tell her about a great book related to a subject they were discussing, implying he knew more about it than she did. As he kept talking, the author realized he was telling her about her own book.
More extreme manifestations of this phenomenon occur in other parts of the world. In some countries in the Middle East, a woman’s testimony of rape doesn’t have weight unless there was another man there to witness it. A woman’s word is considered less reliable than a man’s word.
Want to see all full key ideas from Men Explain Things To Me?
Key ideas in Men Explain Things To Me
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Men Explain Things To Me about?
Men Explain Things To Me (2014) is a collection of essays that examine the range of misogyny in our culture, from everyday microaggressions to legal systems that fail to punish rape. Solnit explains how sexism perpetuates itself, and what we can all do to eliminate it.
Men Explain Things To Me Review
Men Explain Things To Me (2014) by Rebecca Solnit sheds light on the pervasive issue of mansplaining and its detrimental effects on women. Here's why this book is worth your time:
- With sharp analysis and compelling anecdotes, Solnit exposes the patriarchal attitudes that perpetuate the suppression of female voices.
- It is a powerful call to action, urging readers to recognize and challenge the gender dynamics that often go unnoticed in everyday conversations.
- Solnit's thought-provoking exploration of gender inequality captivates readers, sparking conversations and fostering a deeper understanding of these complex issues.
Best quote from Men Explain Things To Me
An exasperated women remarked to me, What do [men] want – a cookie for not hitting, raping, or threatening women?
—Rebecca Solnit
Who should read Men Explain Things To Me?
- Women who are tired of men talking down to them
- Men who want to be allies in the fight against misogyny
- Anyone curious about feminism or how deep-rooted sexism is in our society
Categories with Men Explain Things To Me
Book summaries like Men Explain Things To Me
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
34 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Men Explain Things To Me FAQs
What is the main message of Men Explain Things To Me?
The main message of Men Explain Things To Me is the pervasive problem of mansplaining and the need for gender equality.
How long does it take to read Men Explain Things To Me?
The reading time for Men Explain Things To Me varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Men Explain Things To Me a good book? Is it worth reading?
Men Explain Things To Me is an insightful book that sheds light on gender dynamics. It's worth reading for its important perspectives in under 130 characters.
Who is the author of Men Explain Things To Me?
The author of Men Explain Things To Me is Rebecca Solnit.
What to read after Men Explain Things To Me?
If you're wondering what to read next after Men Explain Things To Me, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
- My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
- Mind Magic by James R. Doty
- Stop Self-Sabotage by Dr. Judy Ho
- Feminist Fight Club by Jessica Bennett
- Anatomy of a Breakthrough by Adam Alter
- She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
- Manifest by Roxie Nafousi
- The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith