In Roxane Gay's "Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture," the author explores the complex relationship women have with anger, particularly in the context of trauma and suffering. Gay highlights a poignant moment where a woman, who has endured unimaginable hardships, questions her right to feel anger. This reflection underscores the societal expectation that those who are oppressed should not express anger, particularly when they are alive and have survived through adversity.

Gay argues that anger, often seen as a privilege of the broken, is something many women struggle to embrace. Women are frequently compelled to justify their emotions and confront societal perceptions, which adds an added layer of complexity to their experiences. The need for women to rationalize their anger reveals how deeply ingrained these expectations are, making it challenging for them to fully express their justified feelings of rage.