When men intimidate women but don’t break the law. What’s the best thing to do?

[Nilbog]

I feel like this happens a lot.

Shouting, driving aggressively, refusing to move out of the way, standing over women to show how much bigger they are etc.

It seems futile to report these incidents to the police but in my opinion they demonstrate a pattern of behaviour that should be take more seriously.

When I have made reports to police, I feel like I’m treated like I’m blowing things out of proportion and that nothing can (or rather will) be done.

So, what’s the best course of action? How/when will intimidating behaviour ever be seen for what it really is (power and control) and when will men be told not to do this?

Or should we continue to be small to protect ourselves in the name of self preservation?

I struggle to stay quiet Pengwyn

I don’t say “how dare you shout at me” but that’s what I’m thinking. I may also think about acid baths...

I take your point newnorthener

Perhaps I expect too much from people. In my world I want people to regulate their behaviour without it needing to be law. And as Librariesmakeshhhhappen says, how are the existing laws enforced?

@Nilbog

I struggle to stay quiet Pengwyn

I don’t say “how dare you shout at me” but that’s what I’m thinking. I may also think about acid baths...

I don't blame you!

I'm a short, not very large older woman but when my hackles are up I think I identify as a very large rugby prop...

It’s as if nobody thinks it’s important enough Librariesmakeshhhhappen

Ha ha @Pengwyn

I now have a new face to think of on the punchbag tomorrow, the twunt with the big car and a man bun

This is a very good question and I would love to know the answers - as I'm sure there's more than 1.

I'm small (5ft) and like so many other women I've had men try to use their size to intimidate me.

Sometimes I stand my ground, other times I walk away (usually with the man still shouting at me). Either way it's very unsettling

It is unsettling DPotter and often frightening too.

When we stand our ground we are often at risk of harm and when we walk away, we have no recourse.

Third party witnesses help. "Get lost you pervert!" in a raised voice so that other people turn around and look. Even if that wasn't actually what they were doing.

@Nilbog

Ha ha *@Pengwyn*

I now have a new face to think of on the punchbag tomorrow, the twunt with the big car and a man bun

The man bun is a good enough reason alone to put his face on the punchbag

@JediGnot I don’t usually mind a man bun on on a 50 something year old, it’s a bit tragic.

I vaguely remember a piece of advice about support someone who is being racially abused - don't know if this would help with a man intimidating a woman. Basically the advice was - if you see someone being racially abused, go up to them and pretend you're friends, saying Hi, how are you, How the wife / kids etc. Ignore the abuser completely - no eye contact, don't talk to them, just really focused on the victim - sorry don't like that word, but it's late.

Never tried this but I can see the logic behind it.

some good ideas DPotter