@Kaarme
defending yourself is different than picking a fight
defense is easier, you can always run, report, hide, put up a fight, resist, etc.
Picking a fight you can't win is different, it's like taunting someone who has a gun and thinking the person won't do anything because shooting you would be illegal.
if you pick a fight against someone obviously stronger than you and rely on some abstract concept to protect your integrity (sex difference, age, laws, norms, honor...) it is considered to be a unintelligent move.