Men are pushing women over in the street - as a trend

It’s not harmless. The government doesn’t want criminals using it to harm people - teenagers possing about or these barging men spraying it into women’s eyes to hurt them or so they can grab them.

Not only victims would carry it.

Keys between your fingers was the advice from the police at a works safety event

This happened to me with my two year old the other day. My poor boy flew across the bus and was inches from smashing his head into the metal pole. Bus driver didn't say a word. Not a sorry, not is he ok, nothing. It happened weeks ago too getting off. The driver gave us 2 seconds before he just drove off and my baby who was walking down the bus flew down the stairs. Though in fairness that driver was incredibly apologetic so a genuine accident. Just because he is 2 doesn't mean he doesnt have the right to learn to use the bus and sit on a seat. Just like the elderly, he just takes a tiny bit longer. It sickens me they do it to those too, the elderly and disabled. Never seems to be women drivers doing it and we have a few of those here

My Mum has told me of incidents where she's experienced intimidating behaviour from teen males that's left her frightened.
She's a small woman of 80.
There's really no need.

A young man came at me on an actual scooter a few hours ago, as I was coming out the door at the gym. He was actually heading his scooter straight at the door and made a comment which suggested that I was supposed to jump out of the way to let him ride into the gym. Bizarre.

My most recent one was a tall, athletic young man. Well-groomed, appeared sober and had a posh voice - so none of the usual mitigations apply. In a wide-open pedestrian space in sleepy Hereford, he charged into me from the side. I stumbled but kept my footing, so he decided to Tell Me Off ... for being in his way. I said something about there being plenty of space; he marched off, throwing a tirade of 'awful old woman' abuse over his shoulder.

Just so weird. He really seemed to hate me!

I also had this in the late '90s, early '00s in the City and Canary Wharf. All young, fit men, who may have been stressed but certainly not underprivileged. That's what started me playing patriarchy chicken.

The targeting of women is strange I don't know how these men are brought up.
My mum and dad instilled manners in me from a young age, give up seat on bus , please thank you in shops etc.

This thread is another excuse for some man and TRA bashing

It's a weird practice to indulge in.
I've had teen boys try it with myself either walk straight at me or if sitting walk as close as possible to my feet.
I'm a 60 year old man and not a threat.
One little shit changed his mind when I deliberately rammed his hip with a trolley.
I saw the look in his eyes and it was panic.
With an oops sorry min I went on my way.

This is so weird because I had an incident like this last week. Was crossing a bridge. We were in a group so waited for them to cross. Even though it was a large bridge we had about 5 of us, two prams a young toddler and a dog.

As they reach the entrance the group begins filtering off. I start walking and get subtlety shoulder barged. It’s confusing because I was like have I left enough space, did they do that on purpose. It was odd. I have moved through crowds my whole life and rarely had issues. There was plenty of space.

This thread has made me think about it again.

I took two primary school aged boys I worked with to southbank centre about a decade ago, and some older man shoved the two of them so hard they almost fell and there was sooo much space around them there was zero need for him to squeeze by. He walked away so fast before I could say something and I was furious. I actually suspected a racial motivation in that incident.

If I’d been with another adult I’d have chased him down.

Have been shoulder checked by men at least a couple of times before myself once in the US, and once in the UK. Tbf I've had a woman do it too me on two occasions too - once in Edinburgh another time in Liverpool.

What happened? Was it someone behind you on the way down who shoved you or something? Yikes. I already have a fear of escalators.

It happened to me some months ago, broad daylight, three boys around 15yo. One shoved the other into me, cannoning into my shoulder. Cue moronic hur hur hur laughing.

Nope, you’ve got it arse about face.
’patriarchy chicken’ is just when women are more aware and stand their ground.

Indeed.

I carry it in the US.

How is that any better? We teach children at nurseries not to push others out of the way, ffs.

My exH used to square up to me, arms out from his sides, fists clenched, look of thunder on his face, in the house, if our paths happened to cross in a room.

God yes. I was barged by one years ago on a tow path. He had total right of way to use the centre of the narrow path, forcing anyone else off it, because he had a lycra clad willy. My choice was to leap sideways into the canal in one direction or tall nettles in the other. I chose nettles. He knew exactly what he was doing. It was thirty years ago and I still remember the shock, fear and rage I felt at his entitlement.

@cheesycheesy except for the Tim’s. I had two maybe late teens sidle up to me last summer at the shoe section in TKMAX.

they were both dressed like Dylan Mulvaney, Much taller than me (I am 4ft 11)

Making lots of girly noises about shoes i moved away and they just followed me.

In the end i said the size nines are over there mate….

He didn't 'try to push her under a bus', he pushed her out of his way, and there was a bus coming. Not that that's much better. Still, I have wondered about him.

I’ve found the majority of angry men tend to be middle aged or older too. I haven’t noticed it much along younger men/teenagers.

I was about to say the same, an extension of this.
I walk a lot and often have men deliberately walk into my path even though there is plenty of room to make me move out of their way or risk bumping into them. One little turd even smirking as he did so.
it’s so depressing that life as a woman feels less safe than it has done in years

This isn’t a new thing, men with issues have been doing it for many years. They do it to weaker looking men too, it’s like a poodle trying to dominate a Great Dane.

I can’t believe it’s illegal for women or anyone to carry pepper spray in the Uk! It’s harmless but can make a difference. Especially with all that you can see going on at the minute!

Is this just the end result of patriarchy chicken?