Today, or perhaps tomorrow, the Vaucluse Criminal Court will deliver its verdict, sanctioning the crimes perpetrated on Gisèle Pelicot by her ex-husband and 50 co-defendants, most of them prosecuted for aggravated rape. The victim, 72 years old, will be able to try to rebuild herself: “I am a totally destroyed woman,” she testified in court. “The facade is solid, but inside it is a field of ruins.” Despite this, she refused the closed session to which she was entitled and accepted the screening of all the intimate videos meticulously recorded by her ex-husband, orchestrator of ten years of rapes under sedation.
This choice of Gisèle Pelicot, who powerfully says that shame is not in her camp, has made it possible to question as rarely the culture of rape which deeply permeates society. During the trial, some defendants explained that they had been manipulated by the ex-husband and pleaded “involuntary rape” or the right of a man to dispose of his wife. Sincere, these attempts at exoneration say a lot about the depth of the impregnation. Orchestrated by the defense as audible arguments, they still reflect a culture where women remain at the disposal of men and where consent has no place.
This extraordinary trial helped broaden imaginations: rape can affect any woman, whatever her age, background or condition. It can be committed by ordinary men who are neither powerful nor monsters. So, “all rapists”? The formula provoked a lifting of “Not all men”. No, not all men rape, but surprisingly few have expressed their revulsion, or their desire to participate in the fight against such acts, born on the basis of ordinary sexism. This fight, which involves the tireless identification of the causes of rape – from the existing system of domination to the continuum of violence – remains very largely led by women.
In recent weeks, Gisèle Pelicot has become a true icon. His posture, which gives strength to victims, does not make those who hesitate to file a complaint less legitimate. If this trial took place, it is also because of the countless videos amassed by the ex-husband. In France, 94% of rape cases are abandoned by prosecutors, very often because the courts believe they lack evidence. And the victim’s responsibility is harshly investigated, even in this trial where chemical submission has never been in doubt.
The time for the verdict has come. That of actions too. A broad feminist coalition has already formed in France in favor of a comprehensive law against sexual violence, including measures in the areas of prevention, education, and the criminal porn industry in particular. Will the evolution of consciousness desired by Gisèle Pelicot soon be reflected in concrete terms?
