Your argument about 'the bigger picture' is incorrect.
I do not think it is ok to write it off to gender ratios and then chastise anyone for not ignoring and thus implying they should be tacitly complicit.

Its upsetting and Non-Merci can state that.
Its socially unacceptable, as is spitting and more should be done to get the message over.

I do hope when you are with your wife that sometimes (impossible all the time) but just from time to little time you glare back or say something.