This is a form of bullying I’ve noticed used by women in the workplace. They’ll use the softening up strategy followed by the knee in the groin. In this case, used by someone who has seniority so realistically speaking, they get away with it. Am I going to say to my female boss “hey stop harassing me” and then ask her for a reference when I leave the company? No. And they know that.They hold a lot of power. And the bosses above them will turn a blind eye unless some brave whistleblower exposes them and sacrifices their own future.