This begs the question... at some level is the teasing of females by males an attempt to infantalise them? A mating ploy perhaps?
I think it’s more of a bonding ritual than anything (a moment of false vulnerability/social danger that resolves into safety), with different outcomes depending on the folks involved.
Conversely, a former girlfriend said that she did not consider me as a romantic partner until the first time I teased her. I can't remember what form it took, but there is no way it would have involved me calling her a wanker.
> For playful teasing to be successfully interpreted as affiliative rather than aggressive, the teaser, to some extent, has to understand the recipient's expectations and predict their likely reaction. Likewise, the recipient needs to draw accurate inferences and correctly identify the teaser's intent as affiliative, looking beyond any mildly abrasive behavioural elements.
The stark difference in social boundaries you observe is actually an affirmation of the hypothesis that playful teasing acts as a social tool for discovering how to navigate different individual social dynamics.
Teasing communicates effectively:
* I'm not a threat to you, being around me is safe.
* I have humour
* I am fun to be around
As the other commenter said, it creates bonding. You only tease people you like. I can't think of a faster way to demonstrate these qualities, which are perceived as very attractive.