What causes people to become targets for bullying & sexual assault?

Trigger warning:

I’ve been a victim of bullying & physical/sexual assault for most of my life by various people from strangers to classmates to people at work.

I’d like to know why I was a victim & what can I do to prevent myself from being a victim again. In some cases it’s obvious that not going to certain places & not drinking would’ve helped.

I definitely did not drink & was not in a bar or a club when I was bullied at work & in school. I grew up with a nasty mean controlling narc dad & a critical paranoid freak mom & a nasty sister who made fun of me all the time too. So I grew up having low self esteem.

When I was younger, I was a lot shier & I almost never spoke up or stuck up for myself. I was to nice for my oen good.

I had no real friends who’d stick up for me. Two times a mean girl & her friends came up to me when I was with a large group of my friends & she had the nerve to say this: She just stands there & says nothing. She’s always so quiet. My friends said nothing at all. Weird. I know they heard what she said.

I don’t understand why they didn’t stick up for me back then. That was back in Jr. High. I would’ve told nasty mean girls like off if that happened to me now though, lol.

I also didn’t speak up when I was being harassed & talked down to at work by my supervisors at work. I was accused by one of them of being a liar. I said nothing as I didn’t want to be fired. I should’ve said something.

And I froze & didn’t call the cops or have management kick out the people who harassed me when I should’ve done that asap back then.

It’s almost as if these psychopaths knew that I wouldn’t know how to to react appropriately to the situation, that I’d just freeze up or let it go, idk.

I’m not a confident person unfortunately. I try not to make my lack of confidence obvious, but maybe it shows despite my best efforts to hide it.

If any of you on here have had these issues too or if any of you know someone or you have picked on people before, then please explain exactly why targets get targeted.

I try to be more cautious now of course. Even though I’m cautious, it’s like I’m a magnet for creeps ar times, ugh. One time I was followed home years ago by some creep in a van.

I was in my car & he came up to my window & asked me if our house was for sale. I said no. He said am I sure?
I said yes. He freaked me out. He then didn’t leave right away. His van was in the street. I stayed in the car. I froze & stayed in my car. I didn’t think to call the police.

It’s almost like these weirdos know I’ll freeze up in fear, ugh! How can I stop freezing up?

I have an anxiety disorder btw. I’m sick of being bullied & harassed! Lately I haven’t had any issues as I avoid most people & most social situations & I rarely go out ar night these days or out alone period now.

I’d appreciate any insight or advice.