Horrific French rape case showcases survivor’s resilience, which resonates in Lowcountry

A Frenchwoman’s bravery following the realization that she was drugged and raped by her husband, who also invited other man to rape her, leaves experts who help sexual assault and rape survivors in the Lowcountry in awe.

“To say she was courageous is an understatement,” said Aurelia Sands Belle, Ed.D., a research instructor with the National Mass Violence Center and the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. “I just applaud her for stepping forward.”

 

Gisele Pelicot stepped forward with determination in the disturbing case, going to court almost every day as her husband and dozens of other men stood trial for attacking her. “I want all women who have been raped to say: Madame Pelicot did it, I can too,” Pelicot said at one point.

After the men were convicted, Pelicot spoke again. “I think of the victims, unrecognized, whose stories often remain hidden. I want you to know that we share the same struggle,” she said.

Christine Hahn, Ph.D., an assistant professor at MUSC and program director of Sexual Assault Services at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, said Pelicot’s openness and solidarity are remarkable.

“I think it speaks to her resiliency because there are so many barriers to overcome in rape cases. Oftentimes, rape survivors are met with negative reactions from the public, whether that be their friends, their family members or professionals. So to be willing to say, ‘I'm not going to support that type of shame, I'm going to come forward because the shame is on the people who did this’ - it took a lot of strength.”

Sands Belle said Pelicot was also willing to sidestep other societal norms. “This is an older woman. In many ways, she’s stepping out of a comfort zone of the whole ideology of what people thought about sexual assault.”

A comfort zone that may have included ideas about what older women are willing to speak out about and what they’re willing to do to hold criminals, including people they trusted, accountable. “This is a woman who may have assumed her husband would have never harmed her in this way, who was being gaslighted, sexually assaulted and exploited by him. So sexual assault has a prominent place in domestic violence as well,” Sands Belle said.

Hahn said people often assume most perpetrators are strangers. "But as this case pointed out, it can be the husband. Most of the time it happens in relationships or with acquaintances."

 

And when it does happen, justice often goes unserved. “For every thousand sexual assaults, 975 perpetrators go free. And out of the 310 that are reported to police, only 25 perpetrators end up being incarcerated,” Hahn said.

With that in mind, she encouraged people to listen when someone tells them they’ve been sexually assaulted. Pelicot had an appalling mountain of evidence against her attackers. But many survivors don’t. 

Hahn cited a campaign that she hopes will have a positive impact in the Lowcountry. “Start By Believing is an international campaign started by End Violence Against Women International,” she said. “The idea is if somebody tells you they have been sexually assaulted start by believing them. It is as simple as saying, 'I am sorry this happened to you.' Try to listen and avoid asking questions that might make them feel blamed. Offer to help them get mental health services, medical care, or report to police – if they want to.” 

Key support can also come from experts such as the Sexual Assault Services team at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at MUSC.

“We provide early intervention to recent survivors as well as therapy to people who might have experienced sexual assault years ago. I want people to know about this services because after sexual assault people need and deserve help. Call the sexual assault services coordinator for more information at 843-860-5508,” Hahn said.