Make privilege in shops

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I've just been into a large charity shop, with many racks of clothing in it.

I was the only customer in there and was looking at one rail of clothes when a man came in and stood right next to me, looking at the same rail (of women's clothing) with his arm touching me.

I moved across the shop and he appeared next to me again soon after and again stood right next to me 'browsing'.

So I moved another time, and again he appeared next to me, arm touching my arm again.

I then moved quickly to get away from him and tripped but didn't fall and he laughed loudly.

Why do men do stuff like this?! Why can't I just browse for 2 minutes in a shop without a man invading my space?

Title should say Male privilege, stupid autocorrect!

That isn’t male privilege.
That is harrassment with unwanted touching.

It’s not at all acceptable. I am sorry you had to experience that.

Exactly what I was going to say. Harassment.

How is it male privilege?

I would bet he is already known to the staff, who probably feel powerless to eject him.

TMMALT (too many men are like that)

I would be worried that he was a pickpocket or pervert.

This is a pervert getting kicks.

You can immediately get out your phone and film someone who does this then call 999 in front of them.

Shouldn’t it be 101? It’s not a police emergency.

If a crime is in progress, or recent enough that there's a good chance of immediately apprehending the suspect, it's a 999 matter.

“Contact the police by calling 999 to report emergencies or by calling 101 for non-emergencies.”

”Report crimes online or by calling 101 if they are not an emergency.”

I think many men just seem to enjoy the ‘little wins’ by forcing women to move, and knowing they have the power to do that. I was standing at a zebra crossing earlier with the buggy, a man came up on the narrow path behind me (also with a buggy) and clearly expected I would simply move so he could wait there, rather than walking literally 2 feet to the free spot next to me. When I didn’t he just stopped behind me and looked genuinely baffled I hadn’t jumped out of the way, and waited there until the light turned green. I get incidences like this all the time.

Maybe it is male privilege because men can do this to women through intimidation, but not the reverse?

Yes that's the thing, they enjoy the small wins of making women feel uncomfortable.

There's no way the police would take anything like this seriously.

Would you feel uncomfortable saying loudly 'please stop standing so close to me'?

I think being direct can be effective. But only when you feel safe enough.