The Mansplaining of Domestic Design: How My Stove Critique Revealed Gender Dynamics
My original LinkedIn post, which, to date, has had over 26,000 impressions and over 50 comments.
A recent LinkedIn post I wrote about a simple design flaw in my stove—a channel along the edge that acts as an unintended crumb magnet—sparked unprecedented engagement. What was revealing wasn't the flaw itself, but the pattern of responses it generated.
The stove, a (very) domestic appliance used daily for cooking and cleaning (tasks still predominantly performed by female-identifying people), features a design element that creates unnecessary maintenance challenges. When I pointed this out, the responses split into two distinct categories. Several thoughtful comments engaged with the design critique itself and empathized with a similar issue. However, the majority—exclusively from male professionals—focused solely on explaining the channel's intended purpose, missing the core UX argument entirely. These responses fall squarely under the category of mansplaining.
What the mansplainy responses missed is that a technical justification for a feature doesn't validate its current implementation. Not all stoves have this problematic channel design, proving that alternative solutions exist. This highlights a fundamental principle of user experience design: a feature can serve its intended purpose while still being poorly implemented if it creates significant usability problems in daily use.
This dynamic illustrates several critical issues in product design:
The disconnect between technical design intent and daily usability, particularly in domestic products
How gender influences both product development and professional discourse about design
The persistent assumption that explaining a feature's purpose negates valid criticism of its implementation
This case exemplifies why user research is crucial in product development, and how seemingly minor design decisions can significantly impact daily user experience. It also raises important questions about who designs our everyday products and how we respond to design criticism in professional spaces—particularly when that criticism comes from female-identifying professionals.
