AtanariaIn a world where silence often shrouds the trauma of sexual violence, Gisèle Pelicot’s extraordinary bravery in the face of unimaginable suffering has earned her the prestigious honor of Time magazine’s Woman of the Year for 2025. This recognition, which places her among influential women like actress Nicole Kidman and gymnast Jordan Chiles, is a testament to her unparalleled courage in exposing her personal tragedy and transforming it into a global call for justice, accountability, and the shift of shame from victims to perpetrators.
Gisèle Pelicot’s story begins in a place of profound betrayal and abuse. For over a decade, Pelicot was unknowingly drugged by her husband, Dominique Pelicot, who secretly fed her massive amounts of sleeping medication. In an unimaginable violation of trust, her husband invited numerous men to sexually assault her, using internet forums to advertise the “opportunity” of violating his wife. Many of the men who responded believed that they had received consent from Dominique, as he had invited them and facilitated the assaults. This grotesque arrangement continued for years, during which Gisèle’s health deteriorated, her memory faltered, and she became increasingly ill, yet no one suspected the true cause.
The truth only came to light after Dominique was arrested for a separate crime—filming upskirt videos of women in a grocery store. Upon impounding his computer, authorities discovered video footage documenting the sexual assaults of Gisèle, including numerous instances where she was clearly unconscious, snoring, and unable to consent. These harrowing videos became the key evidence in what would later become one of the most infamous rape trials in modern French history. During this trial, 51 men, including her husband, were convicted of crimes ranging from rape to sexual assault. Dominique Pelicot received the maximum sentence of 20 years for his role in the systematic abuse of his wife.
However, what made this case truly exceptional—what made Gisèle Pelicot an icon of courage—was her decision to waive her right to anonymity. In a judicial system where sexual violence trials are typically conducted behind closed doors, Pelicot opted to publicly disclose her identity and allow the trial to proceed in full view of the public. Her bold choice to forgo anonymity was not just an act of personal defiance; it was a political statement. By choosing to expose herself as a survivor, she directly challenged the prevailing societal norms that often relegate survivors of sexual violence to the margins. In her statement, “It’s not for us to have shame – it’s for them,” Pelicot framed the trial as a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for justice, shifting the burden of shame squarely onto the perpetrators of sexual violence.
This decision had a profound ripple effect, both in France and globally. It is rare for victims of sexual violence to come forward publicly, especially when the abuse involves not just one perpetrator but a network of men who had participated in the crime. In many cases, survivors are encouraged, or even coerced, to remain anonymous to avoid the stigma and potential backlash of being publicly identified. Pelicot’s choice to make her suffering public provided a powerful antidote to the silence that so often surrounds these cases. Her public testimony was not only a reclamation of her agency but a form of resistance against the societal forces that silence and shame victims.
The trial in Avignon became a global spectacle, attracting attention from journalists, activists, and human rights advocates worldwide. As she sat in the courtroom, staring down the men who had participated in her degradation, Pelicot embodied a sense of quiet yet undeniable power. She was not just a victim, but a survivor who had chosen to turn her trauma into a platform for justice. Her actions sent a powerful message to the world: survivors of sexual violence are not the ones who should be ashamed; it is the perpetrators who must bear the weight of their crimes.
Her bravery also had an impact beyond her own case. Stéphane Babonneau, Pelicot’s lawyer, remarked that the example she set inspired other survivors of sexual violence to follow in her footsteps. This included the victims of former French surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, who stands accused of sexually abusing 299 people, many of them children. In an unprecedented move, several of Le Scouarnec’s victims have chosen to testify publicly, drawing direct inspiration from Pelicot’s bold decision. The implications of this shift are immense, signaling a potential transformation in the way sexual violence is addressed in the French judicial system. No longer will victims of abuse be forced to hide in the shadows. Instead, they are reclaiming their voices, demanding justice, and confronting the culture of impunity that has too often protected perpetrators.
The trial against Le Scouarnec, which began in February 2025, is not only a significant legal event but also a symbolic one. It comes at a moment when public awareness of sexual violence is at an all-time high, thanks in part to movements like #MeToo and figures like Pelicot, who have made it possible for survivors to come forward and hold abusers accountable. In a sense, Pelicot’s case and the mass child abuse trial in Brittany represent two sides of the same coin—a reflection of the growing tide of societal recognition that sexual violence must no longer be tolerated or hidden.
Moreover, Pelicot’s efforts have contributed to a larger cultural reckoning around sexual violence and rape culture. She has become an international symbol of strength and resilience, with her actions sparking vital discussions on the structures that enable sexual violence and the stigmatization of survivors. She has proven that justice is not merely a legal process but a moral and cultural one, one that requires collective effort to dismantle the systems of power that perpetuate abuse and exploitation.
Her legacy is likely to endure for generations. Pelicot’s courage in facing her own abusers publicly has changed the conversation about sexual violence. She has made it clear that victims should never be made to feel complicit or ashamed of their suffering. Instead, she has turned the shame back onto those who commit the heinous act of violating another person’s dignity. Through her actions, she has not only fought for her own justice but for the justice of all those who suffer in silence, who fear being stigmatized or disbelieved.
As Time magazine aptly noted, Gisèle Pelicot is an “ordinary woman who acted in an extraordinary way.” Her bravery transcends personal tragedy; it has become a beacon for others who have suffered similar fates, offering them hope that they too can speak out, demand justice, and change the world. Her courage has ignited a global movement that calls for a world where shame no longer falls on the survivors of sexual violence but on those who perpetrate it.
Her recognition as Time’s Woman of the Year is not just an acknowledgment of one woman’s incredible resilience, but a call to action for society as a whole. Gisèle Pelicot has shown us that in the face of horror, one individual’s courage can spark a movement that shifts the balance of power, offers hope to the silenced, and forces the world to confront uncomfortable truths. She is a true heroine, a feminist icon, and an indomitable force for justice in the ongoing struggle to end sexual violence.
