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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World

Laying a trap for a mansplaining salesman

Salesman handing car key to woman.
‘If the salesman were to ask my wife if she liked the colour, she was to ask: “Has it got full synchromesh on all forward gears?”’ Photograph: Eric Audras/Getty Images/Onoky

Re mansplaining (3 February), I am reminded of when my wife and I went to test-drive a new car. We’d discussed the tendency of salesmen to speak condescendingly to women and laid a trap. If the salesman were to ask my wife if she liked the colour, she was to ask: “Has it got full synchromesh on all forward gears?” Off we drove, and, as if reading a script, he asked the question and received the riposte. He confessed he’d been caught out and we laughed. My wife bought the car. Well, it was blue.
Rob Doran
Hereford

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