Last night’s presidential election debate was many things – not least a masterclass in how women, no matter how accomplished or powerful, must endure being talked over and ‘mansplained’ to every day of their lives.
Such was the case with Hillary Clinton, America’s first top-ticket woman candidate for president, who somehow managed to stoically smile and soldier through repeated instances of being talked over and patronised by her opponent, Donald Trump.
I've never been more impressed with Hillary than I am right now. Her face is all women listening to mansplaining since the beginning of time
— Emma Badame (@EmmaTheDame) September 27, 2016
For example, we know that Trump interrupted Clinton 51 times during the whole debate – she spoke over him just 17 times.
The first debate featured an unprepared man repeatedly shouting over a highly prepared woman https://t.co/XFnlgBEfwC
— Vox (@voxdotcom) September 27, 2016
Whatever people might think of Clinton, last night’s debate should become one of the textbook studies of how women can deal with – and neutralise – the most odious of personal and professional encounters with boorish, obnoxious male know-it-alls.
Regardless of the actual debate, Trump is doing a whole lot of mansplaining and interrupting while Hillary keeps her cool #debatenight
— Lizzie Wood (@LizzieJWood) September 27, 2016
Here’s a quick 5-step, how-to guide:
1 ) Make sure to adopt the most politely derisive facial expression possible:
Hillary's response to Trump's mansplaining and interrupting her is so classy pic.twitter.com/xnkqvNPLDa
— Sarah Hagen (@sarahgray520) September 27, 2016
It is very obvious that Clinton has spent her whole career dealing with men interrupting her and talking over her. #debatenight pic.twitter.com/H9VrlO7DXV
— Ellie Hall (@ellievhall) September 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/Japvn/status/780592062626496512
2 ) Have your facts ready to disarm any man who questions your ability to do a job:
Trump questioned Clinton's “look” and “stamina” during last night’s debate. And she was ready for it pic.twitter.com/SJyTj1SBia
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) September 27, 2016
3 ) Be as well prepared as possible – and don’t be ashamed of knowing your stuff:
"Trump just criticized me for preparing for this debate. You know what else I prepared for? Being president." #DebateNight
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016
4 ) Give the mansplainer enough rope to hang himself…
https://twitter.com/JessicaValenti/status/780592824370753536
… and turn his mansplaining tactics on him:
https://twitter.com/alyssabluhm/status/780578914787692544
5 ) Finally, a confident – indeed, a victorious – shimmy goes a long way:
https://twitter.com/ditzkoff/status/780594971812429825
In short:
To the men amazed Clinton hasn't snapped: Every woman you know has learned to do this. This is our life in this society. #debatenight
— Elisabeth Van Every (@E_VanEvery) September 27, 2016
