Gisèle Pelicot Has Published Her Memoir, Calling It A Message Of Hope For All Women And A Reminder To "Never Be Ashamed"
“It’s always the victims who feel ashamed and victims shouldn’t feel ashamed. The victims, they can stand. It was the accused who should be ashamed.”
Gisèle Pelicot has given her first TV interview about her mass rape trial and released her memoir “Et la joie de vivre” or “A Hymn to Life,” saying it is a message of hope to all women who are who are going through a difficult period in their life and a reminder to “never be ashamed.”
73-year-old Gisèle was drugged by Dominique, her husband of 50 years, and raped at least 92 times by 72 men between 2011 and 2020 without her knowledge.
Dominique, now her ex-husband, would mix sleeping and anti-anxiety pills into her food or drinks and then invite different men to their home to rape her when she became unconscious.
She only found out in October 2020 after Dominique was arrested for filming a video of a woman's underskirt in a supermarket, which led to a police investigation.
On Feb. 11, in an interview with La Grande Librairie and France TV, along with her book co-writer Judith Perrignon, Pelicot spoke about her experience finding out about the rape, her experience during the trial and her healing process.
Pelicot described her shock at the police station, seeing photos showing her drugged and assaulted.
She initially denied it was her and didn’t recognize herself, adding that her brain “dissociated” at this point.
Pelicot said that when she decided to reveal her identity and not have a closed hearing was her way of fighting for other women.
“At that moment, I wasn’t only thinking about myself. I told myself that if I was capable of doing it, other people could do it too,” she said.
Pelicot said she also wanted to shift blame from the victims and put the blame on the assaulters.
“It’s always the victims who feel ashamed and victims shouldn’t feel ashamed. The victims, they can stand. It was the accused who should be ashamed,” she said.
Pelicot said that sharing her experience in the book helped her reflect on herself and find a way to rebuild her life.
“Today, no, I feel a peaceful, serene woman. I absolutely have no regrets about having opposed a closed-door hearing. And what I would like most of all is for this book to convey a message of hope to all victims. Never be ashamed. Look ahead and never lose faith in yourself.”
Pelicot’s memoir was published on Feb. 17 in a worldwide launch in 22 languages.
Sofia Hou
Kassy Cho
Isha Jain
