Mansplaining

So I'm going to start by saying that I love my boyfriend to death, but he is definitely guilty of explaining the stupidest things to me. We grew up about a half hour apart, went to the same size high schools, share several hobbies, and both are getting our degrees here at Fredonia, we are not that different. However, he often likes to forget that I've been exploring the woods and nature since I was little just like him. Now, he likes to identify himself as a "redneck" and I am about as far from that as possible, but that doesn't mean I'm not as knowledgeable when it comes to the great outdoors.

The two of us go for hikes and walks around us all the time, and more often than not he tries to explain something to me, that I already know, or he has told me before. My favorite example, is last spring we went to Zoar Valley (it's like 20 minutes from here and highly recommend going to see it before you graduate!) When we decided to turn back and head back to the car he insisted on climbing up a bank and explaining to me why that was a better idea than just following the creek bed we had just climbed up, back down. After fighting him on it for a while, and him not budging, I gave up (something I don't do very often) and then we got very, very lost. This may not be the best example, but it's the only exact moment I can remember. He is guilty of this on a regular basis when it come to "country" things though. However, I do pride myself in very rarely letting him get away with explaining things to me, because I normally can quickly explain to him that I know exactly what he is about to explain to me.

Much like Rebecca Solnit, I am all too familiar with people explaining things to me in which I am actually knowledgeable about. My boyfriend is not the only one who is guilty of doing this to me in the realm of “country” things. But, I will continue to try to not let it happen, and also work on not doing it myself.

Until Next Time,

Ciara