Marseille, France: Gisele Pelicot, a 71-year-old mass rape survivor, has emerged as a powerful feminist icon in France. After discovering in 2020 that her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, had been drugging and raping her for almost a decade, often inviting strangers to join him, Gisele chose to fight back.
Instead of hiding, she demanded that the trial against Dominique and 50 co-defendants be open to the public. “Shame must change sides,” she declared through her lawyer, shifting the blame onto her abusers.
A Public Figure for Feminism
Gisele’s courage has garnered widespread attention. Her portrait, created by Belgian artist Aline Dessine, has been used in protests with the words “Shame is changing sides.” Feminist activists have rallied around her, praising her bravery for speaking out not just for herself, but for countless other survivors of abuse.
Gisele’s ex-husband has confessed to his crimes, meticulously documenting the abuse through videos and photos. Despite the horror, she has chosen to stand tall, saying, “I will fight till the end.”
A Life Rebuilt
Born into a military family in 1952, Gisele’s life has been marked by hardship. She lost her mother to cancer at a young age and her brother to a heart attack before she turned 20. Despite these personal challenges, Gisele built a quiet life, working for France’s national electricity company, EDF, and caring for her three children and seven grandchildren.
In 2020, her life was shattered when she learned the full extent of her husband’s actions. Now divorced, she has moved away from the town where the abuse occurred and taken back her maiden name. Despite the public attention, Gisele has expressed that she never sought fame, only justice. “She just wants all this not to be in vain,” her lawyer said.