
While many women are all too familiar with mansplaining – from everything to do with politics to feminism – one man took it to a whole other level, and truly out-mansplained himself when he tried to explain the difference between vulvas and vaginas.
It all started when the Guardian tweeted about a recent photography series, entitled "Me and my vulva: 100 women reveal all". The aim of the series, created by Laura Dodsworth, was to share "stories of 100 women and gender non-conforming people through portraits of their vulvas".
Me and my vulva: 100 women reveal all https://t.co/KkiSDc2bjm— The Guardian (@The Guardian) 1549720212
But naturally, one man on Twitter, called Paul Bullen, took it upon himself to correct the tweet, commenting underneath: "The correct word is vagina."
Cue exhibit A of mansplaining.
@guardian The correct word is vagina.— Herr Doktor Paul Bullen (@Herr Doktor Paul Bullen) 1549773597
In response, a group of highly intelligent women educated Bullen about a body part that – and he needed reminding – he didn't have.
@paulbullen @guardian Says guy unfamiliar with both.— Typewriters Quiet (@Typewriters Quiet) 1549903743
@paulbullen @guardian My 3 year old calls it a “bulba.” She is closer to correct than Paul.— CO (@CO) 1549946700
@paulbullen @guardian I’m a gynecologist who also happens to be skilled in the yarn arts, and it’s #vulva. I knitte… https://t.co/fMk0hajyN6— Diane Horvath, MD, MPH (@Diane Horvath, MD, MPH) 1549891228
Hey Paul before you try and mansplain to women about vaginas you might want to learn what a vagina is yourself. I… https://t.co/gwTVGGNmJJ— Guido (@Guido) 1549921933
One woman in particular decided to call out the mansplaining, writing to Paul directly:
But instead of just accepting the fact that these women were right, Bullen responds to the tweet writing (and cue exhibit B of mansplaining):
@decolover61 @guardian That’s an incorrect use of the word mansplaining. :-). Not that I want to legitimize the ter… https://t.co/yyfNQFIXIA— Herr Doktor Paul Bullen (@Herr Doktor Paul Bullen) 1549840962
Yep, that's right. This man truly managed to mansplain mansplaining – a feat which, up until this point, seemed almost impossible.
And it doesn't stop there. When a gynaecologist intervened, pointing him to a diagram explaining the difference between the two words, based one her research, Bullen fought back again.
Mansplaining involves a man correcting a woman when he was not asked or when he is not the expert and knows less. Y… https://t.co/wcJ8A236a8— Jennifer Gunter (@Jennifer Gunter) 1549862194
So @paulbullen here is where you mansplained to me — the correct use for the article was vulva, the common use vagi… https://t.co/DJ2UWLmXhe— Jennifer Gunter (@Jennifer Gunter) 1549863085
He. Just. Keeps. Going. You really have to hand it to him - he's committed if nothing else.
But unfortunately for him, the tweet went viral and in the end he was left defeated by an onslaught of women (and men) telling him to just stop.
@paulbullen Vulva was used because it is vulvas that have been photographed and it is vulvas that are being discuss… https://t.co/2LKE7WDpvc— Transatlantic Notes (@Transatlantic Notes) 1549856434
@Chinchillazllla Paul sucks at cunnilingus.— Shannon Stamey (@Shannon Stamey) 1549842056
Even Dictionary.com chimed in.
@paulbullen @guardian Well. Actually. https://t.co/Fn2mW7hze1— Dictionary.com (@Dictionary.com) 1549842124
