the victims of the week have never struck me as particularly damsel-like

Jumping in here, because this conversation is fascinating, but also look at some of the characters that were victims. I know not everyone agrees on popularity, but I especially liked Sarah and Andrea.

Neither of them faded into the background like "damsels in distress," but, more importantly, I think they were the most admired by Dean, who is supposed to be the stereotypical man's man. But what did he tell Sam when Sarah wouldn't run away? "Marry her." And I seriously don't think he was kidding. At least, not in the sense that this was an awesome woman who was worth time and effort.

And I know Cassie wasn't particularly popular, but I didn't see her calling Dean because she was a victim, but because, he was the expert. And it's pretty obvious that Dean's long term attraction to her was because she wasn't one of those blonde bimbos he claims to like.

And Layla. Her strength was that she wasn't the victim that Dean thought she was.