If a stranger pounces at you on the street and takes your purse, that's one thing. If you keep going back again and again and again to a man WHOSE BEHAVIOR YOU KNOW AND CAN PREDICT, well that's your choice. "Poor me" doesn't work for me.
I agree with you ... to a DEGREE - and I have lived through abuse. What you fail to understand is that the 'poor me' attitude SOME women who suffer at the hands of abuse have - is because they don't KNOW any better. Like those of us 'born' into the org. Things didn't FEEL right, we may have even admitted they weren't right, but we were TOLD we didn't know any better...we couldn't fend for ourselves...we wouldn't make it out there in the world. So when that is drilled in your head - that without the org, you will die and/or the world will chew you up - WHAT do you think you're going to believe? WHY do you think some stay IN the org for so long?
Studies show that the average woman returns to her abuser 7 times! Picture that...this man tears you up, kicks your ass, makes you THINK you are worthless - and you stay (or go back). Why? Because THAT is how long it takes for her to either get the 'cojones' to leave him, or, she finally gets an escape plan together. NOT easy - NOT safe.
But even though I have gone through an abusive relationship, I do NOT consider myself a victim - I am a survivor. A victim means that I am NOT in control - and although he didn't like it, I AM in control of my life and my choices NOW...back when I was in that relationship, I was out of control (so to speak). I do not LOOK for anyone to pity me and what I went through. Instead of it bringing me down, it's strengthened me and empowered me to stand up for myself now.