That's a fair statement. I've got a second opinion (my hubster) and he said that sexual assualt is different when it's a woman, however he wasn't able to tell me why. Answers the question really, which is sad. What Paul did was wrong and I'm glad he is being punished for it and I hope brand don't work with him ever again. I do hope people call him out on social media because it's wrong what he did
My guess is, it's a "likelihood" thing.
This whole thing made me realise that technically (ok, not even technically) I was sexually assaulted by a colleague back in something like 2011 when he slapped my arse while I was under a desk plugging something in.
Was it mildly embarrassing? Sure. Did everyone in the office laugh? Yeah. Including me, albeit of course that might have been face saving subconscious reaction to just join in.
But what's the likelihood anything worse than that would have happened to me? Pretty much nil.
What's the likelihood something like that will ever happen to me again? Pretty much nil.
Because I'm a man.
So, rightly or wrongly, I think we perceive it as worse for women because statistically it's probably the tip of the iceberg, whereas for a bloke something like that is probably a once or twice in a lifetime sort of thing that isn't likely to result in anything worse happening.
I'm no expert, but that's how it feels to me if that makes any sense?