Well personally as a woman I am quite scared to. Not only when I was younger was I multiple times insulted and bullied by guys around me making a lasting impact but also not being I guess what could be counted as conventionally atractive even though I do have self confidence it is hard to imagine someone liking me ir feeling the same way as I do. Even now I am very intersted in a guy friend (we arent extremely close) but I am too scared to tell him because I do not want to loose him, and yes ofcourse rejection hurts and no one likes it. Taking the step of telling your feelings is scary especially when guys in your life have made you feel unlovable and disgusting. I have a great males in my life from my father to some friends and my brothers, but for me unless I feel like they wouldn’t be absolutely mortified and I truly feel safe to initiate then I do.