I agree, I also think it unlikely that the adoption of the term 'mansplaining' encourages non-men to patronize more people. On the other hand, what I understan

I agree, I also think it unlikely that the adoption of the term 'mansplaining' encourages non-men to patronize more people. On the other hand, what I understand from the criticism of the term is that it hurts some people to hear it used. We choose our language because we don't want to cause others pain; when someone tells me that calling someone a b*tch causes them pain I stop using the word around them. If I have reason to believe that using the word causes a lot of people pain then I stop using it in public. Similarly, lots of people (some reference below) are pained by words like 'mansplain' and 'manspread.' If someone tells me that they are pained by it, I don't go and try and convince them that the word is actually fine to use and they shouldn't be pained, I stop using the word. REF: http://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2015/feb/12/allow-me-to-explain-why-we-dont-need-words-like-mansplain http://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2015/feb... http://www.xojane.com/issues/why-you-ll-never-hear-me-use-term-mansplain http://www.xojane.com/issues/why-you-ll-never-hear-me-use-te... http://www.patheos.com/blogs/phoenixandolivebranch/2013/02/what-my-feminism-is-and-why-im-not-okay-with-mansplaining/ http://www.patheos.com/blogs/phoenixandolivebranch/2013/02/w... http://halginsberg.com/lets-stop-using-terms-like-mansplain-and-manspread/ http://halginsberg.com/lets-stop-using-terms-like-mansplain-...