I understand your point of view. All of those women in your scenarios - I was their nurse when they had their abortions. I held their hands as they went under & I was there when they woke up. Even the child raped by her step-father. They are not isolated incidents from the news. They were my patients.

My point in the piece was that women don't have to accept this circumstance. Prey runs, prey hides. Prey does not stand & fight. What all those women need is to be told they can. Because I know. I've been in a couple of those situations you mention - never assume someone who is strong got there because they were never abused. I have found just the opposite to be true. Fighting back helps you reclaim your power. And what women need in these times is other strong women to stand with them. They don't need our empathy - they need our swords.