Good on you Mrs Springsteen for starting this thread.
Been thinking about how to answer.
(apologies in advance, I think I caught all auto corections, and other typos- posting this through free WiFi not at home. tired and have another errand to attend to)
I think there are two problems I guess running parallel to each other that intersect (i m o) [spacing it out stops the auto-cap]
There is the abuse of power which stems from psychological & sociological aspects in a person, and can be found in nearly any age, all genders, classes, "races", ethno groups, religions, atheists etc amongst some people in all of these groups. Which is why as headache mentioned it's not just male to female.
But I posit that the parallel problem of women not being considered equal to men in a lot of men (and too many) women's minds; women are not people first in those minds.
And that's why the major amount of attacks, abuse, harrassment are done by men to women, still, as it's gone on for thousands of years.
Yes, there have always been good men who have supported the various women in their lives to dream their dreams, and help make them come true. But I think sometimes not enough.
Think even of the common phrase " would you want that (abuse) to happen to your girlfriend, wife, sister" etc. Each designation of the woman has at some point (and still does in places) needed permission from which ever designated male (father, brother etc) to do certain things, go certain places etc. Further stemming from the "fact" that women were "less than", and further still- " property".
Thing of the rage (that often manifests as seriously disturbing work place behaviour, including sabotage of women's work tools in the construction business that) is often hurled now in the form of degradatin and, hate speech, and death via e-mails, tweets and phone calls etc at women who go and do things that have been considered work in the "male" domain. ( yes, when it comes to physicality issues, a woman firefighter, AF combat person etc must be up to par with her male counterparts want to make sure that's clear)
As a woman from a young age who liked/s "girly" things and activities, and "guy" things and activities particularly as designated back in the 1960's it's been hell of a journey watching women trying to gain equal rights. Some day these activities will be considered less balkanized ( they are less so now than then, not equally so everywhere). I'm very glad, at least , I was born in NYC, USA where there was/is a chance for someone who refused to fit he mold could have a chance to thrive more than many places, and many past times as well!