French Rape Trial Highlights Deep Issues in Societal Attitudes Toward Sexual Violence

Gisèle Pelicot's public trial against her ex-husband and 51 accused men reveals troubling views on consent and rape culture.

Gisèle Pelicot was unknowingly drugged and raped by her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, who invited other men to assault her over nine years.
The trial, taking place in Avignon, is the largest rape case in France's history, with 51 men accused of participating in the assaults.
Some defendants have admitted to the rapes, citing misconceptions about consent due to the husband's involvement, while others deny knowing she was unconscious.
Psychiatric evaluations suggest Dominique Pelicot may have been driven by paraphilic tendencies and a lack of empathy, but his exact motives remain unclear.
The trial has sparked a national conversation in France about rape culture and societal attitudes toward sexual violence, as many defendants claim ignorance of wrongdoing.