Kind of self explanatory due to the title, but I will elaborate nonetheless by sharing my personal experience in this field, then explaining how harmful it is to other males in society.

I feel very uncomfortable when women look at and, despite no consent being given from me, touch my body, mainly because they have no shame in doing so; it feels emasculating to view and degrade a man in such a predatory, or even straight up objectifying manner. I get this a lot from women of my age and even women older than me (I am not 18 yet, therefore I am referring to grown adult women) and it discomforts me to my core. I do not want comments saying bullshit like "You're so lucky" or shit like that because I'm not, especially after the trauma I have already went through. I do not feel safe around women nor men, but for different reasons; women however, tend to be much more upfront in their objectification and recieve little backlash, and even praise for it.

This is my experience with this topic; however, this issue goes far beyond just me.

While many people display condemnation toward the objectification of women by men (rightly so), the reverse happens to be less catered to, or even completely neglected. Cultural norms further worsen this: comments from women regarding men's physicality-especially in a sexualised or predatory manner-are commonly excused as "humor" or "admiration." These women may even be lauded by their peers and society as a whole for their "confidence" or "empowerment," further normalising this ridiculous double standard. This mindset, carried by women, is extremely detrimental, particularly for young boys whose boundaries are crossed and constantly invalidated.

Boys are often taught to tolerate or accept this behavior because our society frames it as a "compliment." This hinders the young boy's ability to establish and enforce personal boundaries, which males are expected to lack nowadays because "they don't need them", leading to confusion and discomfort in situations where their autonomy is ignored.

When boys are told they're "lucky" or expected to feel proud rather than disturbed by objectification, they may suppress negative feelings, internalising discomfort or even trauma. This will commonly lead to difficulty in expressing emotions or seeking help, isolating male youth from ever moving on from this trauma..

Experiencing objectification at a young age, particularly from adults (especially females), can make boys feel unsafe and ashamed. The dismissal of their discomfort can leave them feeling invalidated, as though their emotions are not worthy of recognition.

As boys become men, repeated instances of objectification can lead to a generalised distrust of women. This makes it harder to form healthy relationships, whether platonic or romantic. This can also lead to a resentment towards women as a whole, similar to how a female victim of sexual harassment will grow to be weary when surrounded by men. However, the female's feelings are validated by society whilst the male's feelings are incorrectly labelled as "misogynistic" or "bigoted."

Men who have endured objectification from females (and possibly males as well) may develop a heightened vigilance about their appearance and surroundings, leading to anxiety and possibly even body dysmorphia. They might feel unsafe or scrutinied in social spaces, which are strongly related to the symptoms of female trauma survivors, but because of their gender, they are not treated with the same kindness and care that women often receive (however, it is important to note that both genders still face discrimination for something they could not control).

Ending note:

Our society's normalisation of women objectifying men and the lack of accountability they are required to take creates a cycle of harm. Boys and men have to live in a world where their boundaries are less regarded and their pain less acknowledged. This affects not only individual mental health but also worsens broader issues, such as strained gender relations (men possibly entering unhealthy relationships with women who treat them as an object), unhealthy expressions of masculinity (men feeling that they are no longer a man and must reassert their masculinity, which can possibly lead to violent hatred towards the less massuline), and the stigmatisation of male vulnerability (which only makes men feel less open to talking about the trauma they have endured).

Edit: Next time I make a post, I will try to do a better job at painting women in a better light; it is unfair how my words might seem alienating for a female reader, which is exactly what happens when men read about male of female violence. Apologies to any females who have read this and feel slightly blamed for this problem as a whole; remember, it is some women, not all women. Have a wonderful time during these upcoming Holidays everyone!