It's great when you can help yourself in such situations but we know not everyone can. The point of someone briefly interceding a gathering to ask whether you'r

It's great when you can help yourself in such situations but we know not everyone can. The point of someone briefly interceding a gathering to ask whether you're ok (based on what they've observed as worrying speech, body language, etc) is an offer of help that can be accepted or discarded. I see nothing paternalizing in this. In the same way I wouldn't be offended by someone holding a door open for me despite my obvious capability of doing so myself, I'd appreciate their exhibiting concern for others to ask if I was OK, even I was capable of dealing with the situation or if there actually was nothing wrong. See something, say something - I'd do likewise if I perceived other women in what seemed to be a worrying situation.