THOUGH pop culture bombards us every day with images of fictional violence, there is something about seeing the real thing that brings on the iciest of sweats.

Marie Laguerre, a 22-year-old Parisienne, was coming home from work recently when she passed a man who she says made lewd comments and gestures. “Shut your mouth,” a weary Ms Laguerre told him, “I don’t tolerate that sort of behaviour.” One small battle won for womankind, courtesy of the aptly named Ms Laguerre.

It was what happened next, however, that has shocked so many. CCTV footage from the cafe Ms Laguerre was passing shows the man picking up an ashtray and throwing it at her. He then doubles back, as does she. Words are exchanged. There is no sound on the video, but his reaction is plain: he strikes her on the side of the head, so forcefully she is knocked sideways.

In an interview with Le Parisien newspaper, the architecture student said: “From the way he was behaving I knew he was going to hit me. He was enraged. I refused to lower my eyes. I looked at him straight in the eyes, I wasn’t going to apologise. I took the blow with pride. My head was hurting but I remained as upright and dignified as I could.”

There has rightly been an outpouring of support for Ms Laguerre. Anne Higaldo, the Mayor of Paris, sent her a message of “Solidarité totale!” Marlene Schiappa, France’s Secretary of State for Gender Equality, said: “It is not tolerable that in France, in 2018, women are hit in the street because they refuse to be insulted when they walk. It is a fundamental issue of freedom.”

It was Ms Schiappa who earlier this year introduced a so-called “wolf whistler” law to tackle street harassment. As part of this, on the spot fines will be issued from this autumn for behaviour deemed degrading, hostile, sexual or sexist.

It is impossible not to admire Ms Laguerre’s determination to stand up to her aggressor. Had the scene come from a movie one might have punched the air (metaphorically of course: I’m Scottish) in agreement and continued to cheer her on as she became an example for millions to follow. I can see it now: a montage of scenes showing women taking toe to toe stands against their tormentors. To be accompanied by a stirring soundtrack, something rap perhaps. Sisters kicking ass for themselves.

So much for the movies. In reality, taking on an aggressor one to one is the last thing I would urge any daughter, sister, mother, niece, aunt or friend to do (and yes, the same goes for their male counterparts). It concerns me that that in the laudable push back against sexual harassment and violence, typified by the #MeToo movement, that this is the point we have arrived at.

There is too much pressure being placed on women, particularly young ones, to be warriors along the lines of Ms Laguerre. On call, every time, for all battles, like some conscripted army, trying to make up for the frustrations and failures of feminism in the past half century.

For all the thanks they get, too. At the height of the Harvey Weinstein allegations there was a lot of comment, most of it from older women, wondering what all the fuss was about. In their day, went the argument, all it took was a steely look, a firm hand, or a sharp word and pests would scuttle away. The word “sassy” would frequently appear in such scoldings.

What a steaming pile of piffle. It takes no account of the imbalances of power in workplaces that mean any woman at the bottom of the ladder has to think very carefully before taking on a man at the top. Nor is there any understanding that women, encouraged and conditioned from a young age to be nice, might not have the confidence to do a Wonder Woman-style spin and transform themselves into Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday. Others may be unable to say or do anything because they are in shock.

So much for the old guard. Other voices urge women to take a stand, fight back, get out there, and all those other exhortations to action. Admirable in its way, but like the “sassy” brigade, not all the advice is worth taking on every occasion. Especially when it comes to confronting an aggressor on the street.

There was once a male comedian who did a brilliant routine on dating. “How do women still go out with guys?” he would riff, “when you consider that there is no greater threat to women than men. Globally and historically we are the number one cause of injury and mayhem to women. We are the worst thing that ever happens to them. You know what [men’s] number one threat is? Heart disease.”

How we laughed. That comedian, and you may want to sound the irony klaxon here, was Louis CK, who was himself later accused of sexual harassment. He admitted it and apologised. What he said about dating holds equally true when it comes to confronting aggressors, as Ms Laguerre did. It is a dangerous business.

Wouldn’t we all, men and women, want to be like Lee Child’s bestselling creation, Jack Reacher, the ex-military cop turned drifter who travels across America righting wrongs? Reacher is a hero of our times. In an age when people feel increasingly powerless and at the mercy of bullies, he stands up to injustice, and if that doesn’t work he socks it squarely on the jaw. Imagine how a discussion between Reacher and Donald Trump on how to treat women would go.

Joking aside, no amount of pluck on a woman’s part is going to make up for the fact she is probably smaller, lighter, weaker, and less able to defend herself than a man. Unless she has been trained to fight, the chances are she will come off the worst in any physical confrontation.

I salute Ms Laguerre’s spirit. I admire her determination to stand her ground. Sometimes, however, walking away is the better part of valour. Report the matter later, get the CCTV and names of witnesses (all of which she did).

There will be another battle another day, one to win in a better, safer way. You are not in this fight alone.