In France, Gisèle Pelicot’s husband, 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot, has admitted to repeatedly drugging and raping her—and inviting dozens of men to sexually assault her—for over a decade.
Pelicot, who is also 71, refused anonymity and opted for a public trial “to raise awareness for other victims of drugging-faciliated sexual assaults in France.” Her husband and 50 defendants charged with aggravated rape are expected testify in the trial, which started Sept. 2 and will last until mid-December.
Pelicot’s case is one of many in a surge of assault reports in France in recent years, according to Vice Magazine. Northeastern WGSS program founder and Professor Emerita, Laura Frader, weighs in on how assault cases are received in France versus in the United States:
“While there is still perhaps more skepticism in France than in the US about the legitimacy of sexual assault and sexual harassment, these attitudes are changing fast, especially as a younger generation of women and French feminists and their male allies are willing to confront these issues head-on. The Pelicot case is certain to contribute to this trend.”
Northeastern WGSS program founder and Professor Emerita, Laura Frader, who also studies gender attitudes in Europe.
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