A very good piece - one of the reasons some women don't report and don't talk about it is then it become "real." There is no way to disavow and pretend it never happened (although I'm fairly sure that doesn't actually work), it's still a survival strategy for many.

A culture that doesn't reflexively retraumatize and disbelieve victims would be a good first start, and assist women in taking this step, but I think you're right that women have to find a way to regain agency and self-belonging even though that was taken from them, no matter if others offer that to them or not.