I wrote an article a few weeks ago about why I'm addicted to "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit." Aside from the suspense and drama that obviously makes a show compelling, I discussed how the strong women in this show were a major part of why I can't stop watching it. So, after some contemplation when this article was published, and of course, some more "SVU"-watching, I decided a Part 2 was in order, because I had forgotten some important characters.

One episode I watched that spurred this Part 2 involved the medical examiner, Melinda Warner, who managed to save a man shot by his son. It was never in her job description to be present at the scene where the shooting occurred, but because she was there, she helped talk the gunman down and saved him from being shot by police by shooting him in the leg instead. In the same episode, Warner had to tell a couple that their daughter had leukemia, as well as help save the girl from her kidnapper (what kind of medical examiner deals with all of this?!). Aside from going above and beyond her job description constantly, she is also an Air Force veteran and a mother--both of which require strength. Played by Tamara Tunie, M.E. Warner has lots of witty comebacks in addition to her insane skill set, but she also from time to time schools the detectives when they question her expertise. She demands respect, and that is certainly something to aspire to.

Detective Dani Beck, played by Connie Nielsen, only appears on "SVU" temporarily during Season 8, but even in the short time she was present, I was intrigued by her character. She confesses to Detective Elliot Stabler that she's not sure that she's cut out for a career in the Special Victims Unit--she's worked on homicide cases in the past and isn't accustomed to dealing with live victims or with the depravity that the SVU cases sometimes involve. However, by her final episode, in my opinion, she proves herself. Dani offers to take a little girl home with her for a few days so that she will feel safe testifying against her adoptive parents in court. But the girl sets her couch on fire, with the intention of killing them both so that at least they can "be together forever." Despite being taken aback, Dani manages to hold the little girl so she can't walk into the flames while she puts out the fire with an extinguisher. Dani went into work the next day and explained to Detective Stabler that she "couldn't do this; it's too hard". I think that at that point, she has proven that she could do it, but is making her own choice that she doesn't want to live her life that way.

Finally, Judge Elizabeth Donnelly, played by Judith Light, counts as a strong female character in my book largely because of the way she responds to sexism and unfair treatment being thrown at her in the workplace. Frustrating politics often threaten to interfere with her ability to do her job, and she pushes back against them. She herself tries to remain fair, unbiased, and lenient whenever possible; it is clear that she hopes to use the criminal justice system as reparative rather than punitive when she can. However, when her leniency is abused, she comes down hard on the perpetrators. In addition, she takes firm public stances on many important issues, including several that specifically have to do with women's rights, and though these public opinions have from time to time caused problems for her, she will not stand down from what she believes.

I think there are important lessons to be learned from all three of these women; it is a valuable thing to demand respect from people--both when it is deserved because of your expertise and when it is deserved because of your personhood. It is significant to gain the knowledge that you can do just about anything, even something that might seem impossible, but that if you don't actually want it, the ultimate choice of whether to do it or not is yours alone. Finally, I believe it is incredibly important never to stand down about your beliefs; if you don't have your opinions, you don't have much at all.