I believe in it because I've lived it and many female friends have had the same experiences. I mean working a corporate job in the 80's and 90's required working harder, longer, and being better prepared than the men plus fending off unwanted touch and words while you were doing it. Women are also expected to take on the brunt of house work and child rearing even if they are working more hours or make more money than a partner. And I haven't even gone down the Andrew Tate/alpha male road - that's just a big ball of misogyny.
Not sure what can protect us other than civil rights laws, being strong and independent, and being woman's women by lifting each other up.