Why is there SO much hostility from men towards women?

[timetodothis]

Especially on the roads.
I'm still shaking from an incident today.
There wasn't enough room for myself and a white van to get through, so I decided to be the bigger person and reversed quite a way back to let him weasle faced little prick through, only for him to wind his window down, shake his fists at me and call me every name under the sun, before screeching off.

I also belong to a running group and lately I've noticed a lot more nastiness towards us, from passing cars and the odd cyclist,along the lines of ''get out of the way you stupid bitch' and 'dumb cunts' and it's nearly always from younger men.

What's going on? Has it always been like this or are things getting worse?
Makes me wonder what they're watching on tv or online to view us in this light.

I really don't know why higher levels of aggression among men compared to women in general is news to anyone. A quick glance at any crime stats, even if you don't trust your own experience, will tell you which sex commits more crimes of any magnitude: violence is overwhelmingly a male trait and sex crimes are almost all committed by males. These are trends that are mirrored in other mammalian species as well.

I’be had a fair amount of this lately - and I know the wouldn’t do it to another bloke. My fav was the driver who actually waved his fist in outrage like we were in a 1950’s film I hadn’t done anything btw, he had to let me passed before he could get his stupid 4x4 down our narrow rd. Incandescent he was at that extra 10 secs.

I agree.., seriously this is why I’ve learnt self defence and do HITT classes which has now resulted in me having more toned upper body than slit of men!

Someone got aggressive and got out of his car to intimidate me but I also got out. I have to say I was bigger and more built than him and he apologised!
True story

I've been a home carer on and off for 20 years.

the last 5 years the roads and the male drivers have become horrendous. I will never drive for a living again when I leave this job, i'm done with it.

White van man is a breed that is generally rude and aggressive to everyone.
Here in the sticks we have many narrow lanes, the kind where the brambles can scratch both sides of the car simultaneously. There are passing places both official and unofficial like farm gates, it's the norm to acknowledge each other, a micro-wave with one finger or a Hitler salute, hand raised from the wrist. In 8 years I have hardly ever had problems, if you see another car one of you ducks into a place but occasionally one will roar past the places and assume it's their automatic right and these are invariably women!

stressedoutpa

I drove a white van a few months ago and was amazed at how aggressive people were towards me!!!

I had a different experience, I found that people got out of my way when I drove a transit one weekend, despite my van being considerably slower than most of the modern cars on the road. I guess most road users didn’t consider that there might be a 5ft 5" woman behind the wheel and automatically assumed 'probably a testosterone fuelled dickwad, may as well let him go'. I didn't face any of the usual aggression and arrogance I usually experience in my sporty soft top.

As a lone woman cycle commuter, I'd say the aggression directed my way from drivers is about 50/50 men/women.

I drove a van (larger than transit) when helping my son move to his house and people certainly moved out of the way. However it is men shouting at and making gestures at women when women are walking or on a bike (and sometimes driving) which is (and always has been) very common.

It is no mystery as to why some men are more agressive -it's testosterone coupled with being with a mate in the van and showing off or drink and never learning how to stop themselves losing their temper. They need more peace, calm, meditation, a walk in the woods, yoga or whatever works for them.

Maggie I agree there are some pretty aggressive female drivers out there too

Shitty driving isn't just limited to men. Anyone whose driven down a country lane and encountered a woman in a white evoque coming in the opppsit direction will know what I mean.

Shitty driving isn't just limited to men. Anyone whose driven down a country lane and encountered a woman in a white evoque coming in the opppsit direction will know what I mean.

^ this and BMW drivers.