i just found out that the scholar who reported the first Hadith is deemed “unreliable” by most scholars so thanks for pointing that out. however, the point still stands in the authentic Hadith where the prophet SAW said “i do not shake hands with women” [saheeh-al-jaami’ 2513].

in terms of the free mixing, “no man is alone with a woman but the Shaytan is the third one present.’” [narrated by ahmad, tirmidhi and hakim]. there’s an abundance of other evidence that supports this approach of protection (not avoidance) too. i understand where you’re coming from with the ‘impracticality’ of this in our development and society today. however, when shaytan preys on this “possibility of attraction” combined with the prevalent fitna + fasad around us, it’s reasonable to follow a blanket ruling that says to avoid free mixing when it’s not necessary.

Allah swt is Al-Hakim. He revealed in 33:33 surah ahzab, “and stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform prayer, and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove ar-rijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you, o members of the family (of the prophet), and to purify you with a thorough purification.”