Feminists

I wouldn't know about USAmerican soaps, but the UK soaps I watch faithfully, Coronation Street and EastEnders, have been doing a decent job lately with storylines about the "incremental control" you refer to.

There have been several recently, how the men ingratiate themselves, are forgiven, increasingly acquire means of control, and ultimately exercise it violently. It's impossible to make it totally believable, as obviously the audience is supposed to see what's happening while the female character and sometimes family/friends don't, but it's done without making the women look stupid or blameworthy.

Little things like that, one can only hope they get through to young women especially and they'll maybe recognize the bad guy in the good guy they think they're seeing and not overlook the signs.