I’ve noticed a social trend; women are more confident in physical and social confrontations because it’s safer for them

I remember when this picture was posted, the story of the women who lined up to protect the male protesters. It's a very interesting picture because it captures a weird dichotomy in society right now- women are sort of perched in a top social position where they are both more confident in confrontation, and also "protected" by societal rules. That may be confusing so let me unravel what I mean:

That picture happened because the women knew that as women, the police were less likely to "get physical" with them. They knew they were safer then men doing the same thing. I noticed this a lot during the protests/marches to...when protesters or neighborhood folk would confront rioters/looters, it was women would usually "took point" and were the most forwardly aggressive, including towards men. Why? Because women know that a man is much less likely to hit them in public.

However, at the same time women enjoy an advantage were we are not expected to participate; men are expected to subject themselves to violence, women aren't. Women can both volunteer men to violence while exempting themselves, and also choose to participate with a “stronger hand” than men. And, at the same time, even if a woman is more aggressive and forward towards a man, he is still expected to treat her "more softly" then he would a woman.

This happened again last night, when idiots were setting off fireworks and waking up children. People in my building were in the hallway, looking towards the door talking about the people outside. Some men were reluctant to go out, because it was a tense situation- what if the people outside are violent or fight them? But a woman marches right out and starting screaming at them, forcing them to leave. As a woman they weren't going to fight her like they might have to a man. Women have a sort of "social power" right now that men don't.

Being a woman is a massive perk in a confrontation situation. This applies to really anything- someone playing music too loud? It's better if a woman knocks on the door. Someone messing up the garbage in the dumpster? Better if a woman confronts them. It's more effective and safer if a woman confronts a man than if a man does, because for the first time, women are empowered to be physically confrontation when necessary, but at the same time, we are still (mostly) protected by the unwritten rule for most men not to hit a woman, even if self defense.

It’s a safer for a woman to confront a man than it is for a man to.