Because kicking a guy's knee in, or worse his nuts, is so much less "assault" than pepper spray?

no... they were saying a self defence class could help her learn to assess situations better and how to safely use pepper spray. Classes like that don't just teach you how to get out of dangerous situations, but also how to determine when to use those techniques.

Hmmm, if he was actually reaching out to grab her or something, ok. You're walking alone in the middle of the night in some shady area, some dude has been following you for a while and next thing you know he speeds up and tries to grab you you without warning...I could understand acting in self defense. However if he was simply walking behind her for a while (maybe he has anxiety and was hesitant to say something, maybe he wasn't sure if she was actually the one who dropped them, or wtv), then I disagree. It's not uncommon to walk in the same direction as someone. I know I've "followed" people that way for several blocks at a time, but luckily I'm a small girl so nobody suspected me. Similarly my bf happened to take the same bus, get off at the same stop, and walk down the same street as some random girl. She got scared and ran off, which I can understand. But peppering someone, which can cause serious harm (like blindness), simply because they happen to be walking behind you is NOT a good excuse imo.

Same - have inadvertently followed and caught up with a number of people. I am naturally a fast walker, so I'll most likely catch up... And chances are I won't notice you till I'm already very close. (I'm female, but not exactly tiny or harmless-looking, for the record.)

Roosh V is that you? Wow. And "men are far more likely to have something bad happen to him"? You really want to say men are victimized or targeted more than women? How about men and women BOTH are and it isn't a race or competition.