by Jen Kirkman
First published 2020
Jen Kirkman presents a collection of fictional scenarios where men confidently lecture women about topics they barely understand. Her characters encounter males throughout art and history who feel compelled to educate women about their own bodies, defend street harassment as complimentary behavior, and instruct experienced horsewomen about equestrian techniques. These situations mirror the familiar experience of being on the receiving end of condescending explanations from men who possess far less knowledge than the women they address. Kirkman transforms the viral social media phenomenon of documenting such encounters into literary vignettes. Each story captures the absurdity and frustration of these interactions, where male confidence inversely correlates with actual expertise. The book explores the emotional toll of repeatedly encountering men who assume intellectual superiority despite obvious knowledge gaps. At its heart, this collection examines the patience required to navigate a world where women constantly face unsolicited instruction from less informed men.
Genres: humor, gender-studies, feminism, social-issues, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: humorous, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: satire, social-commentary
Period: 21st-Century
96 pages · Hardcover · Chronicle Books