Yes - when social distresses are romanticized it's bothersome, for all the reasons you mentioned.
The message of tolerance and understanding, however, is paramount, and I will bring up Deerskin again. For people who have not experienced the horror of abuse, this book can really illuminate the distress (to put it lightly) that abuse victims can feel. It also shows that escape from a situation and healing are both lengthy processes, and the permanent change of the main character shows that once terrible things happen, people are changed. Physical transformation (the visual "rags to riches" or "old hag" to "smokin' sexpot") are important as well - they visually mark a character's purpose, or landmark their journey. Such as when the main character of Deerskin's (I can't remember her name right now) hair changes colour after she experiences trauma.
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The message of tolerance and understanding, however, is paramount, and I will bring up Deerskin again. For people who have not experienced the horror of abuse, this book can really illuminate the distress (to put it lightly) that abuse victims can feel. It also shows that escape from a situation and healing are both lengthy processes, and the permanent change of the main character shows that once terrible things happen, people are changed. Physical transformation (the visual "rags to riches" or "old hag" to "smokin' sexpot") are important as well - they visually mark a character's purpose, or landmark their journey. Such as when the main character of Deerskin's (I can't remember her name right now) hair changes colour after she experiences trauma.