It’s pecking, like what pigeons and many rodents do.

And other men do notice, as the performance is for them. In fact, that’s likely why they usually don’t react, though I admit it’s subconscious on their part.

In other animal species that are prone to peck, subordinate males peck females in an attempt to undermine who they seem to be the dominant male by provoking him into a rage so the group will turn on him, by weakening him through lower level conflicts for a chance to eventually become the dominant male, or to gain a higher status amongst other subordinate males because they’ve been harassing him. They’ll be less likely to do so if he has challenged the dominant male even if he loses.

It’s all about his feelings of inadequacy.

Best thing you can do is acknowledge, publicly, his feelings of inadequacy. Hell slink off to go try to bother someone else.

To clarify, I don’t mean to sound dismissive myself. I’m just pointing out that men are unlikely to change to suit us, so it’s pointless to expect better from them. We women are better off learning how to respond to these instances ourselves rather than putting faith in men to be more than what they are or grasping what they ste capable of instead of the bare minimum or less always on offer. Meet their energy in all walks of life. Not an ounce more.