Asklemmy

I was just basically saying that I wouldn’t barge into a woman’s dressing room just on my own “authority” as a gay man. I mentioned it because of one of the examples from the OP. Things like that are all about context like if we’re sharing a hotel room and someone is already in the restroom or if we’re getting into costume and need assistance. There’s mutual consent

I thought about this a little more. When you asked do I believe I have less right to initiate that than they do. I actually think the answer is yes.

Taking the situation to a wider lens I am not traditionally a person that is preyed on and victimized for my body nearly as much. I don’t think it would ever be appropriate for me to initiate a situation like that with any woman. Based on cultural and historical context it would be much more likely that a man, if he were uncomfortable, would leave that situation than it would be for a woman to do the same for fear of her own safety. The power dynamic is different whether that’s real in the situation or perceived. I would never want to inflict that on someone else.

Of course men can be preyed on and put into uncomfortable or dangerous situations as well. I’m not saying anything to contradict that. No gender is a monolith but overall it’s probably a safer bet to let a woman initiate that than a man as a general rule. It’s a complicated topic and even more so when you consider it outside of the gender binary. But that’s how I perceive my role in this situation.

Maybe read it again, in context, and decide if there are equal rights to initiate that particular interaction (no matter what the genders or sexualities involved are).

Then have a stern word with yourself about being so incredibly defensive that you end up portraying yourself as a sex pest.