I think there are cases where that is true, but I think it's also true that men are continually on the other end of these awkward social exchanges, and are often thinking all the same sorts of thoughts from the other end of it. True, when we are in these awkward exchanges, we aren't also the ones that are feeling threatened and intimidated by the size or strength of the other person in it, which is bound to make things even more uncomfortable for the woman than it is for us.
I agree that there's a social awkwardness that men face when dealing with women. For example, it can't be easy for a man to walk up to a group of women and try to talk to one of them without feeling weird with regard to what the proper social interaction with the rest of the group is.
But keep in mind, most men are probably pretty darn wary of strange men as well. Violence between men is not unknown either.
Granted, but with the following caveats:
1) most male on male violence is non-sexual in nature (and sexual violence is particularly damaging to the victim and egregious), and
2) most male on male violence is perpetrated because someone wants your property or your money and you refuse to give it up.
Being mugged is certainly scary, and the loss of cash and having to report credit cards stolen is an exasperating inconvenience. However, handing over your wallet or your new sneakers to avoid violence (while scary and depressing and probably insulting to one's manhood) is a far different matter than an attacker only being satisfied after they've savagely and degradingly violated the sanctity of one's person.
Now please don't think I'm saying that male on male sexual violence is not a thing that happens. It definitely does, particularly in prisons. And please don't think I'm blind to male on male violence that is non-sexual but also not property related. Hate crimes and drunken brawls are good examples of the latter.
So yes, if I see a woman changing a tire beside the road, my mind starts going, "Should I stop? If I stop, will she be afraid of me? She might panic and call 9/11 if some stranger just shows up. Or she might get offended. She might think that I think she can't change the tire herself. Probably she can change the tire herself. Or if she can't, she's probably called some friend or relative, and me stopping will just be awkward and unwanted." And by the time I think all that, it's too late to stop, and the world just became a little less civil and polite place. The sexist part is admittedly, all this probably won't go through my head if I see a man changing a tire. I'll just think, "Poor guy. What an awful place to have a flat."
But sure, none of what you describe is really anything other than what I would have imagined about the situation.
That's interesting. It does make me wonder how prevalent it is for men to think that way. I recall my father telling me about a time that he stopped to help a woman shovel out her car that had skidded into a snow bank. We're really close, and he didn't mention anything about being apprehensive about helping her. Of course, that was also in the middle of the day on the shoulder of a busy street. And, even if he didn't have any apprehension he is just one person and not necessarily indicative of the whole of men.
Or, to give you another situation. I used to commute along a strip that had a lot of hitchhikers. I used to stop and give them rides. I would however never advice my daughters to give rides to strange men.
But did it occur to you that I would have advice my sons never to give a ride to a strange woman. Can you imagine why?
Yes, I can imagine why. First, one should be wary of all hitchhikers. They could easily be armed, and one is not able to defend oneself well while driving. Also, accidents and misunderstandings happen. A male driver could accidentally touch a female hitchhiker, perhaps while shifting gears, provoking a molestation misunderstanding. Plus, some women are unscrupulous and will extort a driver with the threat of claiming rape or molestation.