Swedish women can now report instances of being mansplained via a new national hotline that gives workers the opportunity to phone in to vent their frustrations.
The union-run hotline is temporary, and allows women to report instances of mansplaining as part of week-long effort to raise awareness of the issue.
If you haven’t come across the term “mansplaining” before, the word is a combination of man and explaining, and is used to describe how a someone, typically a man explains something, usually to a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronising.
Unionen, which represents over half a million private sector workers, said the awareness-building campaign was about “equality”
“It is about putting your finger on the small everyday problems which become large when they stack up,” the union told the Independent.
The dedicated hotline will be open from 10am to 4pm through this week, and aims to highlight, and hopefully end – the damage caused by mansplaining.
Watch this video on how words impact people in the workplace. Post continues after video.
Those manning the hotline include a gender expert, a feminist, politicians as well as comedians and scientists.
There are no set scripts, and those responding to calls have the freedom to say what they want to those calling in.
The hotline, while well-supported, has also come under fire from a few men, with some taking to Unionen’s Facebook page to complain about the the “sexist” nature of the service.
“That the union chooses to make pigs of a certain gender is so far from my values,” user Klas Jonsson wrote.
“Just what we need in society, more polarisation. And people wonder why right-wing populism is on the rise,” wrote Jim Brännlund.
The scheme has also been praised for the work it’s doing to raise awareness, with Facebook user Sophie Brömster writing: “Great that you take this up and working for gender equality in the workplace.”
