How Frances rape victim-turned heroine Gisle Pelicot made shame change sides

Brave Gisèle Pelicot was drugged unconscious and raped by her husband and 50 men he had invited to have sex with her in their small Provencal village in southeastern France.The 72-year-old retiree should have been the ultimate victim.Instead, because she waived her anonymity and showed her face to the world during her husband of 50 years’ harrowing trial, Pelicot has become a feminist folk heroine and symbol of hope in France.“Bravo Madame!” blared the headline of Le Parisien after a French court on Thursday sentenced Dominique Pelicot to a maximum 20 years of imprisonment for drugging and raping Gisèle and allowing other men to rape her while she was knocked out, abuse that lasted nearly a decade.The sentence against Pelicot was handed down after he was found guilty of all charges against him.

Also aged 72, it will likely mean he spends the rest of his life in prison.The verdict was read by the lead judge of the court in Avignon, Roger Arata.Arata read out each verdict one after the other against Pelicot and the 50 men, declaring, “You are therefore declared guilty of aggravated rape on the person of Mme.

Gisèle Pelicot,” to each.“Merci Gisèle!” a mob of women shouted as Pelicot exited the court Thursday, in a cry that’s become synonymous with Pelicot’s ordeal and courage.It is hoped the case will change the attitude toward sex assaults in France, a country where the #MeToo movement never really took hold.“I want you to know that we share the same fight,” Pelicot said in her first words after the verdict, expressing “my profound gratitude towards the people who supported me.”Pelicot said she insisted the nearly four month-long trial and evidence be made public and she attended the proceedings — not only for herself but for her family and other women who have been victims of sexual abuse.Her daughter, Caroline Darian, 45, one of three children she shares with Dominique, attended the trial as well.

Photos of Caroline, seemingly dr...