For what its worth I do think it’s because he’s a man and she’s a woman.

but here is the thing, if EVERYONE was an asshole at that age, then if someone is noticably MORE of an asshole than everyone else at that age, then it’s saying something.

I’m not sure I really get what you’re saying here. Should people in the 1950’s not have commented on what a gigantic asshole McCarthy was because, you know, he’ll burn himself out eventually?