You’re talking about the sore losers, maybe? Those men who are actually weak, insecure, whose position and higher status are not due to real value. It’s because they feel they’re losing ground and they don’t like to have to put in harder work (or aren’t even able to), but feel that there is not much they can do to stop it and it drives them cazy. These types do that not only to women, but also to other men that they see as unwelcome competition and happen to cross their path while they are still on top (or they think they are). Strong, confident men — whose confidence is based on real grounds — don’t do that, they even enjoy and seek competition.

Higher levels of misogyny and sexism or more and more ruthless objectification of women come out as a form of punishment of sorts, or retaliation against women daring to change or, better yet, to correct the state of facts. I think you’re right, the levels are higher. The stronger women will get, the higher the misogyny. They’ll keep doing it in the hope that women will give up in the end. Things always get worse before they get better.