It is hard to explain. I am a woman who was 17 at this time. Mosh pits were not hurtful. It was more about bouncing against one another and getting some energy out and laughing a lot. Girls did it too. If anyone showed anger and/or aggressiveness, the other people in the pit checked him and kept him out, just by creating a human fence around him. I never saw any fights in my many years going to clubs, and this technique quickly quieted down anyone that got out of hand. All these songs, and the songs and pits of the 90s- pure fun.