I make a point of sitting next to them and leaning my knees up against their outspread legs; it’s incredibly passive-agressive but the invasion of personal space is usually enough to make people move.

All this is highly localised behaviour though.  In Japan cafeteria and bus seats are usually filled in to maximise population density.  So, for example, if you’re alone in a football stadium sized cafeteria in the off hours and someone else comes in they’ll walk over and sit at your table.  It’s also fun on the overnight inter-city buses to watch each person on the bus apologise to the person behind them for lowering the seat-back when it’s time for the lights to go out.  It’s kind of like “The Wave” at football games: starting at the front of the bus and going back to the second last row of seats.

I agree with avoiding eye contact, maybe by burying myself in a book. People are a little reluctant to have to get someone attention. It’s a small effect, but it helps.

Some men just feel entitled to make personal, sexual comments/gestures to any woman they see on the street. They’re basically bullies, trying to make women uncomfortable or upset because they get some kind of kick out of seeing the reaction. It’s not about how she looks or how she’s dressed — it’s not about any kind of real sexual attraction. It’s really just bullying.

Believe me, your gf is neither being ridiculous nor full of it.

Any insight?

I’ll encourage folks at the store to go ahead of me in line if they have a few items and I have a couple bags worth of groceries.
I have developed a nonchalant way of doing these things, so that I’m not offending an older man who takes umbrage at the idea of a woman holding a door for him (Used to happen. A fair amount.). Same goes for those with disabilities (of which I am one, but my physical disability isn’t apparent when I’m standing still.) I understand that an act of courtesy might be perceived as patronizing.Basically, I like to be polite to others in society because it makes me feel a little better at the time, and it might make a difference to another person. I also feel very strongly that society is improved by small acts of kindness, and I’m passionate about that philosophy.If someone gets offended, however, I just don’t let it bother me anymore. Fuck it. Can’t please ‘em all.

Yeah, I can see that.

Agreed, opening doors should having nothing to do with gender, it’s just polite to do if you reach it first for anybody.  Young (not old men) guys making a big fuss about ‘ladies first’ to women they don’t know sets off my creep detector.

Also, a stranger sitting next to you on public transportation is just about the lowest rung on the social ladder.  You’re not forced to have deep and meaningful conversation with them.

It’s always horrible when the creepy guy playing pocket pool sits next to you, though. In the big city, though, I think of it as the CTA roulette. Trying to avoid the wankers and the ass-grabbers is all part of the skill set.

As for your example, I’d say never, that comes across more like a creepy, unsolicited come on than anything else.

Sort of.  Maybe not explicitly or intentional, but yeah.  As a young woman, these kind of requests generally aren’t 100% “innocent”.

Older men I think sometimes are just trying to be polite, as that’s how they were taught, but younger men?  No.  They are just being weird.

When it comes to opening doors, I will open for men if they are behind me.  One time some guy got all weird about that!  ”No, I’ll hold it open for the LADY!”  I think I just gave him a weird look, but I wish I would have said, “LADY?  Hah! You don’t know me, Mister!  I am no Lady!  Now get the fuck inside!” as I held open the door.