Every woman's worst nightmare

‘A Queensland woman has suffered every woman's worst nightmare, falling victim to a violent rapist after her car broke down.’

Who says falling victim to a violent rapist is every woman’s worst nightmare? The Sydney morning herald, apparently.

This is one of a string of stories in the last few weeks claiming ‘every woman's worst nightmare’ has played out. They’re all about violent stranger-danger rapes. And, yes, the events are all bad.

But they’re not the worst.

Not for this woman, anyway.

These journalists have obviously never lain awake at oh-dark-thirty listening for all the things that can go bump in the night, imagining possible ordeals, picturing the various shapes and colours that their personal hells might come in.

They should be grateful.

And stop writing in flippant clichés.