[Mz]

which assumes that men tend to build professional relationships with women only when they harbor romantic interest

Small quibble: I am not suggesting that men will only work with me if they are hoping for romance. In most cases, men willing to interact with me because they want romance are of zero value to me professionally. In fact, they often represent an obstacle to my professional goals.

I am saying that heterosexual men generally have reason to be leery of getting too close to any woman at work and, if they are in a committed relationship, can have reason to avoid being close to another woman in any way for any reason. This throws up barriers to networking, collaboration, etc for women that men typically do not face.

I don't know how I can be more clear about that. It doesn't have to involve attraction from either side, though when that is there, it certainly can complicate things.

I see nothing paranoid about men being more hesitant to seriously engage women professionally to a degree they would not hesitate to engage a similarly talented man. The possibility of it leading to problems strikes me as quite reasonable.

[7Figures2Commas]

I don't know what you consider "getting to close to any woman at work," but I have seen plenty of men build close working relationships with female colleagues, mentor female direct reports, etc. And vice versa. I would also point out that lots of people, male and female, simply don't want to invest the time and energy required to build strong professional relationships.

Final comment: I am a heterosexual male in a committed relationship and I have never avoided a professional relationship with a woman out of fear of the "problems" you refer to. Interestingly, there are many women decision-makers today and the number of women in positions of power and influence will only grow, so men who avoid relationships with women as you suggest are just as likely to find their own professional and business interests harmed. Fortunately, I simply don't believe that most male professionals are operating the way you believe they are and I have met plenty of men and women with strong professional networks who reflect that.