‘Shame Must Change Sides’: The Courage of Gisèle Pélicot in France’s Most Shocking Rape Trial

In a world where survivors of sexual violence are often burdened with shame, Gisèle Pélicot is boldly rewriting the narrative.

After enduring years of unimaginable abuse, Pélicot, a French grandmother, took a courageous stand—both in court and in the public eye. Her declaration, “La honte doit changer de camp,” or “Shame must change sides,” has become a rallying cry that challenges deeply ingrained cultural stigmas surrounding sexual assault and victim-blaming.

A case that shook France to its core

The harrowing details of Gisèle Pélicot’s case stunned France and made international headlines. For nearly a decade, Pélicot was drugged by her husband, Dominique Pélicot. He invited dozens of men to rape her while she was unconscious.

Dominique not only facilitated the assaults but also filmed them and shared the footage online.

The abuse came to light in 2020 when Dominique was caught filming women in public. His detention led authorities to search his electronic devices. They discovered over 20,000 images and videos documenting the horrific acts against Gisèle.

“My world fell apart,” Gisèle said when police informed her of what they had uncovered.

For years, she had been experiencing memory lapses, hair loss, and weight loss, fearing she was developing Alzheimer’s or another serious illness. In reality, her husband had been drugging her with a combination of medications, including Temesta, a sedative, to incapacitate her before inviting other men to assault her.

“I thought we were a close couple,” Gisèle told the court, speaking of the husband she had trusted for 50 years. But her trust was shattered when police revealed the extent of the abuse. “For me, everything collapses,” she testified. “These are scenes of barbarity, of rape.”

Gisèle Pélicot: ‘Shame has to change sides’

In a moment that will be remembered for years, Gisèle delivered the powerful statement: “La honte doit changer de camp”—”Shame must change sides.” This declaration directly confronts the victim-blaming culture that places the burden of shame on survivors of sexual violence.

Gisèle’s lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau, echoed her message, emphasizing that the shame belongs to the perpetrators, not the victims.

“I was sacrificed on the altar of vice,” Gisèle said in court, describing the abuse she endured. “They regarded me like a rag doll, like a garbage bag.” These words encapsulate the dehumanization she suffered and challenge the long-standing social norms that encourage silence among survivors.

Gisèle’s decision to testify publicly and allow her name to be published was itself a radical act of defiance

Traditionally, survivors of sexual violence are given anonymity to protect their privacy, but Gisèle waived this right to stand in solidarity with other women.

“I speak for all women who are drugged and don’t know about it. I do it on behalf of all women who will perhaps never know,” she told the court.

By revealing her identity, she reclaimed her story and transformed herself from victim to advocate.

A historical and international trial

The trial of Dominique Pélicot and 50 other men is unprecedented. Not only because of its scale but also because of the public attention it has garnered.

As France Info points out, Gisèle’s decision to refuse a closed trial and to testify in open court has given the case an international dimension. Her face, once hidden behind the initial anonymity given to sexual assault survivors, has now become known around the world.

Journalists from 36 accredited media outlets have reported on her courageous stand, making headlines as far as India and the United States.

This trial has exposed not just the brutality of Gisèle’s case but the systemic issues in how marital rape and drug-facilitated sexual assault are handled in France.

“The Mazan case stands out because of the number of accused, but it’s time to stop treating it as an ‘exceptional’ case. This case is a magnifying glass on all marital rape, a crime that is so rarely heard and recognized,” feminist author Lola Lafon wrote in Libération.

Gisèle Pélicot’s case ignites a global call for legal reform

Gisèle’s case has also sparked calls for legal reform in France. Many activists are pushing for changes to the country’s rape laws, which currently define rape as “penetration by violence, coercion, threat, or surprise.”

Advocates are calling for a clearer definition that includes sexual acts performed without consent, particularly in cases where drugs are used to incapacitate victims.

Outside the courtroom, supporters of Gisèle have been vocal in their demands for justice.

Feminist activists and public figures have praised her courage, comparing her bravery to that of an Olympic athlete. “Dear Gisèle Pélicot, you have entered our lives like you entered the courtroom in Avignon, through the front door. You walk straight, head held high,” journalist Hélène Devynck wrote in Le Monde.

Devynck, who herself has been involved in high-profile legal battles against sexual violence, pointed out that the men on trial represent not just an individual crime but a societal problem.

“These men didn’t just treat you like an object. They are telling all women that we are insignificant. Your strength gives us ours.”

How Gisèle Pélicot is reclaiming her power and identity

One of the most poignant moments in the trial came when Gisèle insisted on being called by her full name, publicly reclaiming her identity after years of abuse. “I want to be called Gisèle Pélicot in solidarity with my children,” she said, refusing to let the name she shared with her abuser be a source of shame.

Her children, who have supported her throughout the trial, stated that they are proud to carry her name and view her as a symbol of strength and courage.

A legacy of strength and empowerment

As the trial continues, Gisèle’s bravery remains at the heart of the proceedings. Her decision to speak out publicly has not only brought her case to the world’s attention but has also shifted the conversation around sexual violence. Her words, “Shame must change sides,” have empowered survivors worldwide to reclaim their stories and demand justice.

Gisèle’s courage has redefined what it means to be a survivor. In her own words, she has endured for “all women” who have suffered in silence. “I testify not for myself but for all these women who have been subjected to chemical submission.”

The trial is far from over, but Gisèle’s legacy is already clear. Her strength will live on in every conversation about consent, in every legal reform that seeks to protect survivors, and in every woman who dares to reclaim her power.