Gisèle Pélicot Trial: How Long Will It Take for the Shame of Rape to Be Placed on Men?

glamour.com:

This article contains references to rape and sexual assault.On Thursday, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the rape of his former wife, Gisèle Pélicot.

Pélicot, who is now recognized as one of the most prolific sex offenders in French history, systematically drugged his then-wife and invited more than 50 men to rape her in their shared home over nearly a decade.In a trial that gripped millions around the world, a total of 51 men stood trial alongside Dominique.

Each was found guilty of at least one offense, with nearly all convicted of rape. Their sentences ranged from three to 15 years in prison, with two of the men receiving suspended jail terms—an outcome that has added to the sense of injustice among women’s rights campaigners and supporters of Gisèle.The Front Féministe International, an umbrella organization of 85 feminist collectives spanning eight countries, hailed Dominique’s conviction as “historic.” In their statement, they declared: “In a country where only 10% of victims of sexual violence lodge a complaint and where 94% of these complaints are dismissed, in a country where rapists enjoy virtual impunity, this verdict is historic.”This case has shattered rape culture myths on an unprecedented scale.

Gisèle Pélicot, in an act of defiance and courage, waived her right to anonymity to confront both her attackers and the broader societal systems that allowed such atrocities to persist.