What do the characters in 'Strange Little Girls' have in common?

Most of the women in 'Strange Little Girls' are coping with something horrible that has happened to them. This may be some kind of loss, general unhappiness in their lives, or a traumatic event. Most of the characters also attempt to deal with this pain by putting up barriers, deluding themselves, or focusing on something good in their lives. Bonnie's mother has been killed by her lover, but tries to fool herself that he loved her. The girl in 'Strange' runs away from her problems, whereas the girls in 'Love', 'Heart of Gold' and 'Happiness' lash back or learn to defend themselves. The woman in 'Silence' thinks about her daughter and feels better, despite her hard life. The girl in 'Rattlesnake' has more or less given up, choosing not to care about anything. The policewoman in 'Monday's Child' turns to her husband for comfort. She is worried that she is losing feeling and becoming like the girl in Rattlesnake. Worrying about this proves that she is not becoming like the girl.