Up until the opening of the 1960's (free love and live free) one did not ask a male out, but since the 1960's broadened things it's acceptable for a woman to ask a man out. In ways it makes it easier...
I can't tell you definitively what the cause of this behavior would be. However, the most likely reason is that he feels very insecure right now, and so is trying to boost his own self-esteem by...