One of the reasons men like fathers and even boyfriends can be dismissive of what women report is because they would never do a thing like that and can’t imagine another man doing it because they don’t get to see it.
But women tend to experience all the craziness that is out there. I was walking in the park with some horse tweens in shorts and breeches several years ago. Passed a man in my age bracket who didn’t look at me. But boy he looked at those 13 year olds. The best I can put it is that his eyes licked up and down their bodies. It was a sharp reminder that young women are really at risk in a way older women no longer are.
I was sitting in the airport boarding lounge once. There was a man my age, about 40 back then, and a college age girl. The man and I were white, he looked dour and exhausted and the girl was pretty, clean cut, and I think Korean American descent.
The man started making intrusive conversation with her by asking stupid questions like you do of a child, not offering any information about himself. She felt constrained to answer politely but was clearly uncomfortable and giving minimal information. I monitored the situation but didn’t get involved, I took was exhausted and dour. I was still a grad student and hadn’t developed the Professorial Authority I can now command.
It occurred to me you could so easily turn the tables in this kind of situation by asking questions yourself. Where have you been, are you married, oh you must miss your wife traveling so much. That would shut up any man.
I also recognized that he wanted to engage with a young girl, and didn’t care that he was being annoying. He would not have started a conversation with anyone his own age.
Anecdotally reading about harrassment issues in our public transit, I think that in general young Asian Canadian women can be more petrified about causing a scene and terrified to move away from a midnight groper, where some other cultural groups would get up and move at a minimum, scream “watch your hands you perv” or something
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