They line up in front of a courthouse in southeastern France, from morning to
evening, and have gathered in the thousands in cities across the country. They
hold signs reading, “one rape every six minutes,” “not all men but always a
man,” and “giving in is not consenting.” They chant: “Rapist we see you, victim
we believe you.” Women across France are rallying in support of Gisèle Pelicot,
a 72-year-old reluctant icon
[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/09/17/dominique-pelicot-gisele-france-rape-trial/75261743007/]
whose husband is on trial in the city of Avignon for systematically drugging her
and inviting dozens of men, 50 of whom are now his co-defendants, into their
home to rape her over nearly a decade. The shocking case has sparked what many
women in France call a long-overdue reckoning over “rape culture” and systemic
sexism in the way the judicial system handles sexual violence.
All the things the mother was doing was so relatable. Even though she seems to have been a professional ballet dancer, she has to work two part time jobs and sell her body to raise her kid.
As an aside: making sex work illegal (as it is in Japan) makes sex workers extremely vulnerable. They can’t solicit help from the police because they would be arrested. People know this and take advantage of it, as likely happened in this episode at least not directly.
All the things the mother was doing was so relatable. Even though she seems to have been a professional ballet dancer, she has to work two part time jobs and sell her body to raise her kid.
As an aside: making sex work illegal (as it is in Japan) makes sex workers extremely vulnerable. They can’t solicit help from the police because they would be arrested. People know this and take advantage of it, as likely happened in this episode at least not directly.