Gisele Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman who was at the heart of a shocking rape trial that concluded with the conviction of 51 men, including her husband, is rightfully being celebrated as a hero. The trial, which took place in Avignon, France, and garnered global attention, was open to the public because Pelicot bravely chose to step forward and reveal her identity as the victim of a heinous crime orchestrated by her husband. He had drugged her and invited men to sexually assault her. Pelicot’s courage throughout the trial earned her praise as a symbol of bravery and a feminist icon.
While Pelicot’s case is undeniably significant, it may not serve as the hoped-for catalyst for other rape victims to come forward. Her case was exceptionally clear-cut, which is often not the norm in sexual assault cases. The high standard of evidence set by the Pelicot trial could potentially deter other survivors from speaking out.
Pelicot’s case was extraordinary in many respects. Despite being married to her attacker, Dominique Pelicot, for many years, she was unaware that he was drugging her with sleeping medication and arranging for other men to assault her. The men who responded to her husband’s online solicitations showed up at their home, even when she was unconscious. It wasn’t until videos of the assaults were discovered that Pelicot learned the extent of the abuse she had endured.
In the trial, 46 defendants were found guilty of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault. Dominique Pelicot received a maximum sentence of 20 years, while his accomplices were sentenced to up to 15 years. The courtroom was filled with supporters holding signs in solidarity with Gisele Pelicot, who declared that the shame should shift from victims to perpetrators.
Despite the progress made in encouraging survivors to report assaults, many incidents still go unreported due to lingering shame. While movements like MeToo have empowered more survivors to speak out, there is a growing narrative among some men that they are unfairly targeted in sexual assault allegations, leading to skepticism towards survivors’ accounts.
It is important to acknowledge Pelicot’s exceptional bravery while recognizing that her case was unique and indisputable. She was not in a position to give consent, unlike many other victims. Her story sheds light on the complexities surrounding sexual assault cases and the challenges survivors face in coming forward.
Evidence against the perpetrators was plentiful and indisputable. The majority of sexual assaults are not captured on film, and even when they are, most of those recordings go unnoticed. (Dominique Pelicot had a folder labeled “abuse” on his computer’s hard drive.) For many women, whose experiences of sexual assault are less documented, speaking out publicly may invite doubt or victim-blaming. Ideally, a woman should not have to be completely incapacitated in order to be shielded from insinuations that she somehow encouraged or failed to resist her attacker adequately, or that she sent mixed signals, or initially consented but later changed her mind, or was careless in her attire or conduct, thus implying her complicity in the events. However, a single instance does not define a pattern. Pelicot’s case was a rare example where her actions were deemed irrelevant.
Following the trial, Gisele Pelicot addressed the media outside the courtroom, expressing her thoughts for her children, the other families impacted by the tragedy, and all survivors of sexual assault. Speaking in French, she empathized with the countless victims whose narratives remain concealed. “I want you to know that we are fighting a common battle,” she emphasized. She extended her gratitude to those who stood by her decision to make the trial public, and somewhat unexpectedly, she hinted that the legal proceedings had instilled in her a glimmer of hope. “I now believe in our collective capacity to forge a future where both women and men can coexist in harmony, respect, and mutual understanding.” Once again, a courageous choice.
