Rishi Sunak has been accused of ‘mansplaining’ during the leadership debate, but what does this actually mean?

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have faced each other for their first head-to-head debate of the Conservative leadership debate, which quickly descended into a slinging match. 

The contenders wasted no time in tearing down each other’s plans for the UK’s economy, but many viewers – and allies of Truss – were uncomfortable with Sunak’s “extremely aggressive” approach during the debate, during which he repeatedly interrupted Truss. This has prompted accusations of “mansplaining.” 

Speaking to LBC, Simon Clarke, the chief secretary to the Treasury, described Sunak’s behaviour as “certainly extremely aggressive,” calling it a “pretty intense approach” to the early stages of the debate. 

A spokesperson for Liz Truss told the a reporter from The Times, “Rishi Sunak has tonight proven he is not fit for office ‘His aggressive mansplaining and shouty private school behaviour is desperate, unbecoming and is a gift to Labour.’”

Sunak’s behaviour is sadly indicative of how many men in positions of power are still treating their female colleagues. A 2019 Women In The Workplace report by McKinsey and LeanIn.org determined that women get interrupted 50% of the time in meetings, as well as 38% experiencing other people taking credit for their work. 

But what actually is mansplaining? And how prevalent is it in the workplace? GLAMOUR spoke to Victoria McLean, founder & CEO of award-winning career consultancy City CV, to find our more…

What is mansplaining? 

Victoria defines mansplaining as “when a man explains something – especially to a woman – in a patronising, condescending, or overly simplified way.” She adds, “It could also be when a man explains something that the woman he’s talking to already knows about, has experience in, or is even an expert in; in any case, he has less knowledge than she does.

“I’ve even heard about instances of men explaining things like periods to women. It may also be that the man explains the topic inaccurately, and with a tendency to be overconfident, or not listen to the woman he’s talking to.”

How does mansplaining manifest in the workplace?

According to Victoria, “Mansplaining can have a really negative impact in the workplace” as it makes women feel “under-appreciated because it assumes that they don’t have the knowledge, skills, and experience that the man has.”

She adds that, “Continued mansplaining aggravates these feelings, leading to decreased motivation, less of a feeling of belonging, and a real sense of frustration. It also reaffirms gender stereotypes, as it implies that women are less intelligent, less well-educated and less able to do their job than men are. And while you may think mansplaining is just downright annoying (which of course it is), it could actually be hampering your career, especially if the mansplainer is a leader in your organisation. 

“Studies show that men interrupt conversations and correct people a lot more than women do – making it more difficult for women to get their point across, hampering progress. And if a woman decides to engage in this behaviour herself, she’s often seen as abrasive or aggressive.”

What should you do if someone in the workplace is mansplaining to you?

Victoria notes that, “A lot of men probably don’t even realise that they’re mansplaining, so the first step is to educate them. This can feel uncomfortable, so while it’s important to do it, wait until mansplaining happens and tell them what they’re doing and the effect it has (it’s much easier to do this in the moment rather than later on, when you have to rehash the conversation). If they’re mansplaining in front of a group of people though, you may want to wait and ask to speak to them separately…just don’t leave it too long. 

“The one thing that’s important to get across is that they need to ask if a person needs something explaining to them, or ascertain in some way the level of knowledge or experience you or another woman has.

“You might also want to use humour and be direct…”Mike, you’re mansplaining me!” then explain what he said that made it mansplaining. It’s entirely possible to give it a light touch and still get your point across.

“Don’t retreat from the conversation – speak with confidence, use your knowledge, make eye contact, keep your back straight. How you speak and your posture can really show someone you know your stuff, and it’s less confrontational.”

Also, if you see someone else enduring mansplaining, stand up for her. Talk about her experience, her ideas, her skills: back her up.

For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.