Why is it so easy for men to scare women?

[Anonymous]

I slightly raised my voice towards one of my female friends who I have known for over a year and she got that scared she ran out of my house. (Keep in mind that this is the first time that I have ever slightly raised my voice towards her). Why did this scare her so much? I am not a particularly intimidating dude. Although I am 6'3 I only weigh around 145 pounds.

[Anonymous]

Because many men tend to be more stronger physically and are assumed to be more prone to violence (this last statement is obviously not true for all men, but tv, newspapers and even our own parents have influenced us into thinking this way).

I've read about women getting genuinely scared when they feel the difference in raw strength when playing with their partners even if they trust them completely. It seems to be about feeling powerless and the man doesn't need to be a gorilla for this to happen.

What I think happened was something more like a reflex of flighting. Some people can be more sensitive to sudden raises of voice and if she doesn't believe she can stand up to you in that kind of "fight" and considering the previous things mentioned, she'll obviously feel scared and would want to just leave.

[NathanDavis]

you could just shout FIRE!! and scare a lot more people like that

[ZS007]

Though men are seen as threat to girls
they are stronger bigger
I don't think that's why your friend left
She is just sensitive
A teacher of mine seemed very angry one day but me and my friend had to ask him a question at the end of our class. I said something and he raised his voice slightly. He sounded so aggressive I wanted to cry. I don't really like getting yelled at and a strict aggressive look is enough to make a sensitive person wanna leave.
It happened before after I had failed my driving test. The examiner looked so serious I couldn't sit there crying from anxiety while he pointed out my mistakes and so I left.

[Oreocookies101]

You may not have meant anything by it, but wouldn't you be intimidated by a man taller and stronger then you? I don't know the rock's height but body builders and wrestlers could kick your ass if they wanted to right? well wouldn't you be scared if one showed a sign of aggression towards you?

[Anonymous]

Because she thought you would’ve never yelled or raised your voice at her like that. Some people have a negative reaction to raised voices due to childhood or relationship trauma. Sometimes they don’t have that trauma, but it’s a boundary that most people don’t like being pushed because it makes them uncomfortable… Like, “Why did he raise his voice, I can’t be here anymore when he’s a little escalated… I don’t know what he will do next”.

[Anonymous]

Why would it not be scary?

[Asker]

Because it is a slight raise of tone lol.

[Opinion Owner]

If someone loses their temper over something minor…that’s not a good sign in general. That kind of unpredictability just doesn’t feel very safe.

[Opinion Owner]

I don’t know then. It must’ve triggered something in her. Or maybe your interpretation of “slight” is different to hers.