The Gisèle Pelicot case has inspired millions across the world through her determination and dignity at the trial of 51 of the men who’d raped and sexually assaulted her. Courageously she decided to forgo anonymity and have the trial in public. It was not the victims of rape who should feel shame, she said, but the rapists themselves. A message reflected in the placards of cheering protesters outside the court: ‘Shame has changed sides.’
Her now ex-husband of 50 years, Dominique Pelicot, had drugged her numerous times over the 9 years to 2020. He’d invited men recruited online to rape her whilst she was unconscious. His filming of the rapes enabled 50 of the men to be identified.
In December, after the 15 week trial, he was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated rape; the maximum in French law. All the men were found guilty of various sex crimes.
Their sentences, ranging from 3 years and 15 years, were below what the prosecutor had called for. The convicted men’s main argument is that they hadn’t been aware that Gisèle did not consent. Her husband had told them that it was with her agreement. His consent was enough for them! One of the trial defendants even said, ‘She’s his wife; he does what he wants with his wife.’
Over 80 men hadn’t bothered with her consent — many are not yet identified. Those convicted include a wide range of men including a nurse, a journalist, lorry drivers and a municipal councillor. Mr Pelicot and most others were French, with ages ranging from 26 to 74.
The huge number taking part reflects an attitude still pervasive in society of women being under the control of men. Historically, with the development of class society the family grew as an economic unit with the wife and children subject to a man’s authority. This was reflected in law in France until 1990 and in the UK 1991; only then did marital rape became an offence. Whilst illegal now in Western countries, rape and domestic violence are still rife.
Women are increasingly unwilling to accept gender based violence — whether it be femicide, rape or domestic violence, with cases such as the rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata, India, resulting in mass protests and strikes. The far right protest only when immigrants or ethnic minorities are allegedly involved as perpetrators, as in the recent controversy about so-called ‘grooming gangs’. Otherwise they are keen to reverse women’s rights.
Gisèle Pelicot’s brave stand will inspire a movement to fight back against the far right and their attempts to turn women into men’s slaves and chattels. The far right represents a decaying capitalism and we need socialist feminism as only socialism can guarantee freedom for women.
