A woman who punched a man when he grabbed her genitals twice in a club says she does not endorse violence but is proud of standing up for herself.
Penny Reeve, 34, said people have been “really supportive” since she spoke out about what happened on social media.
It has also encouraged people to share their own stories of “pretty awful descriptions of abuse”, she said.
Police in Nottinghamshire, where the assault happened, have asked people to report incidents like this to them.
Miss Reeve, from Nottingham, said: “I don’t endorse violence at all, though I do endorse the right to self-defence and a woman’s right to agency over her own body and who’s allowed to touch it.
“Post the #MeToo movement I think there’s much less patience for this kind of behaviour and people would like to see it challenged on a more regular basis.”
The man grabbed Miss Reeve while she was dancing with friends at Mojo in Nottingham city centre on Saturday 11 August.
She initially thought the first contact may have been accidental, but when the man did it a second time she “immediately” punched him in the ribs, then challenged him.
“He just looked very embarrassed and ashamed of himself and kind of mumbled sorry and went to the other side of the club,” she said.
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She later posted about what happened on Twitter and Facebook.
“People have been really supportive of the way I reacted to the situation and really interesting discussions have opened up as a result,” she said.
“On nights out I think often sexual harassment and assault is a way of men ‘trying their luck’ in a club, they often don’t think of it as an offence.”
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESTouching another person sexually without their consent is sexual assault. Nottinghamshire Police said it also treats such incidents as misogyny hate crime.
“Unwanted sexual contact is an offence and will not be tolerated and we would urge anyone who experiences it to ring us on 101,” a force spokesman said.
“If it happens in a bar or club, where possible, people can also go to a member of door staff.”
Miss Reeve said she did not report the incident because she felt she had dealt with it herself, but encouraged anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation to do so.
