I still get sad at the surprise women have when I move before they do
Is this actually a thing? I've always moved away from everyone's path and never noticed anyone feeling surprised by that. And from every man I've ever walked with, I can only remember one who I noticed didn't make room for other people.
Oh, it's totally a thing. I'm a woman and short, so I'm below the eye line of most men, and I've had men plow right over me on crowded sidewalks or at events. Most men expect the woman to yield in that situation and they'll get annoyed if you don't. It actually is surprising when a man moves out of the way, though I don't know if it shows on my face.
Weird. Imo everyone should yield - that way both parties only have to do a little sidestep and they both feel seen. But I guess caring about others seems to be a dying thing anyways...
Possibly, but could also just be a regional/being an ass thing.
I'm in the Southern US and if you don't sidestep or flat out get out of the way of someone (not just a woman) with a "pardon me" you're seen as a jackass.
However, I've traveled the world and as a 6 foot tall, 200lb man I got a wide berth when walking down the sidewalks in a lot of countries, have to get out of the way in others, seen people cross the street when they saw me, but then have some 5' nothing dude with a chip on his shoulder try to start a fight with me for existing in Boston (note this is just a very Boston thing)
Your two reasons, being below the eye line and being a woman are incongruent. If you're below the eye line and they don't notice you, then how are they expecting you to yield?