Content Warning: Rape
If you do not know this imperatrix, then you should. Gisèle Pelicot is a French woman who had been drugged and raped by her husband, who stood by while 50 mentally unstable monsters had their way. It was assumed she was marital property.
I will quote her words in this opinion piece, but this is also the reality of hundreds of women’s lives, and men’s, and children’s.
As follows is a statement on the perspective of the perpetrators on trial spoken by Ms. Pelicot: “I think that as far as they’re concerned, they couldn’t have raped me because Mr. Pelicot was there and had given his consent. Therefore, they didn’t consider it rape,” she told the BBC.
BBC has an interview with Ms. Pelicot about her story and why she did not choose anonymity during her the trial of her rapist husband, along with the participants. She expressed a humbling experience as women stated this strength inspired them to live and speak up.
Her story began when Mr. Pelicot was caught filming up women’s skirts. They were both summoned to a French police station. As they were separated, Ms. Pelicot was probed about her husband’s life and activity. Problem was, she had no clue why they were asking such questions.
She had a “descent into hell” looking at the photos of her lifeless body, “I didn’t recognise myself,” she told BBC. “This woman was lying on the bed as if she were dead. There are men next to her. I didn’t understand who they were. I didn’t know them. I’d never met them.”
According to the BBC, “Police told Ms. Pelicot her husband had recorded, labelled and neatly catalogued the videos of the rapes on a hard disk, many of the men could not be identified.”
In 2011, she started having gynecological issues from being raped multiple times a week and because of the drugs for sedation. This also contributed to neurological problems, suffering memory loss.
Rapists don’t care and are not educated in women’s anatomy. We have more to bear than the male anatomy, as many women and children have died from sexual violence.
I’ve written about France’s justice system, which is a powerful statement alone against the U.S. and sexual violence crimes. This is her story to tell. Please watch her story on BBC if you have not already.
Gisèle Pelicot is an inspiration to all women. Her children, friends, and boyfriend are her support system. Not everyone has this platform or voice to stand against a neanderthal practice that is sexual violence.
I, Invisible Prophet, and all the other silent victims and survivors will continue to shine our voice. We are not our ancestors!!!!
