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 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.

  • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    My mom molested me when I was a child. Not always a man, and fuck that bitch for trying to pretend it’s so.

    • strawberrysocial@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      She was likely raped (by a male, perhaps her father?) much like you were by your mother. It’s very callous to refer to her as a bitch because a sign. Women aren’t attending these protests because they find them fun. They are victims like you.

      • buddascrayon@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        It’s just exactly like the people who saw “black lives matter” and thought they meant only black lives matter. They see the sign saying “not all men but always men” and ignored the first part and focused on the second part. Then proceeded to ignore the actual subject of the article (you know, the woman who was continually raped without her knowledge or consent for over 10 years by 50 or possibly more men and the fact that the defense is arguing that “maybe she secretly knew and liked it”). And are completely focused on being outraged by the sign.

        • MellowYellow13@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          This would only be correct or even make sense if you didn’t get triggered by a sign that read always a woman.

        • strawberrysocial@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Please feel free too. I’m very sorry that happened to you, I know how it feels to be victimized in that way.

      • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        3 months ago

        So if I make a sign that says “not all women but always a woman” because so far, both times I’ve been raped are by women, there wouldn’t be an uproar about how it’s sexist and excludes woman victims of male abusers?

        Why should I be cast aside, lumped in with the “always a man” crowd as an abuser, while the women who abused me are lauded as victims? Why not just care about all victims of abuse? Why do we say “well you’re only 4% so you don’t matter” or “sit down and shut up we’re not talking about you” whenever male victims just want to be fucking included in the conversation and not forgotten about for once, and by the group that should be recognizing us as compatriots in our trauma at that?

        She doesn’t have to put us down to make herself feel better and we’re rightfully angry that it happened again.

        • strawberrysocial@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Hi, you didn’t read a word I said. I sympathize with male rape victims. This article is not about them though.

      • Ifera@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Funny how you jump into assumptions and justifications for her without knowing a thing about her other than her gender and the signpost she has, yet wag your finger at another victim for having a reaction to a message invalidating a ton of rape victims, and also lumping them in the same group as their abuser, as if it was an inherent, genderlocked flaw.

        If you don’t see that as a double standard, then you should really read my last paragraph again and reevaluate your biases.

        • strawberrysocial@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          I think you might have some biases of your own. You are accusing me of the very thing you are guilty of too. Maybe we can at least agree its awful to be raped by people?

          • Ifera@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            Did you like, Just get unbanned or something? Coming back after two months to revive old threads, with accusations of people being biased.

            Being raped is beyond horrible, clearly, no matter the gender relationship. Going to an anti-rape protest with a sign invalidating rape victims is fucked up too.

            And, Where am I guilty of what you are doing? Where am I making excuses for rape apologists and sexists statements?

            • strawberrysocial@lemmy.world
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              3 days ago

              No I was never banned. I am not chronically online. I don’t use an app for this website. I sign in on a browser, coming back every couple months, and might look at and respond to my messages if I feel like it. That’s not that abnormal. And I don’t take it as an insult that you seem think it is? Very odd. Sorry you are offended. I hope you have a good morning or evening depending what part of the planet you are currently on.