Feminist Fight Club

This book is 21 percent more expensive for men

Solnit’s essay about it became a book, Men Explain Things to Me—and mansplaining was born.

How could anybody possibly not lack confidence if she’s constantly being told she’s doing everything wrong?

FURTHER READING
FOR YOUR BOOKSHELF
We Should All Be Feminists—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My Life on the Road—Gloria Steinem
You Can’t Touch My Hair—Phoebe Robinson
When Everything Changed—Gail Collins
Ain’t I a Woman?—bell hooks
All the Single Ladies—Rebecca Traister
Men Explain Things To Me—Rebecca Solnit
Bad Feminist—Roxane Gay
Sisterhood Is Powerful—Robin Morgan
The Color Purple—Alice Walker
I Feel Bad About My Neck—Nora Ephron
FOR YOUR BATHROOM
Our Bodies, Ourselves—The Boston Women’s Health Collective
FOR YOUR COFFEE TABLE
Game Changers: The Unsung Heroines of Sports History—Molly Schiot
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck—Sarah Knight

Find a way to casually remind the room that the idea began with you. Something like: “Love having your feedback on my [idea/suggestion/proposal]”—the key word being “my.” Yes, we ladies like to be team players, but sometimes we need to own the word “mine.” If you don’t see yourself as deserving ownership of an idea, why will anyone else?

the credit right back—by thanking them for liking your idea. It’s a sneaky yet highly effective self-crediting maneuver that still leaves you looking good. Try any version of: “Thanks for picking up on my idea.” “Yes! That’s exactly the point I was making.” “Exactly. So glad you agree—now let’s talk about next steps.”

Yank the credit right back—by thanking them for liking your idea. It’s a sneaky yet highly effective self-crediting maneuver that still leaves you looking good. Try any version of: “Thanks for picking up on my idea.” “Yes! That’s exactly the point I was making.” “Exactly. So glad you agree—now let’s talk about next steps.”

“I wonder what would happen if we tried . . .” but “I’d suggest we try . . .”

So speak up—no ums, sorrys, or baby voice allowed.

You could argue that our country was founded on a bropropriation of sorts: a white man (Columbus) and his crew (more white dudes) claiming credit for discovering a New World that wasn’t actually new (or theirs).