Gisèle Pelicot's face is now famous around the world. Bravely, she stood up against misogyny and against a socio-legal system that has often allowed rapists to get away, without facing the music for their cruel and sinful actions. This time, they could not blurt out the traditional excuses for there was video footage of their disgusting assaults upon a drugged and sleeping woman. Madame Pelicot's dignity through the tortuous trial and in the brash spotlight of media interest has been remarkable. She could have remained hidden from view, anonymous but as she said - why should she be the one to cower in secrecy? She was a victim not a perpetrator so she held her head up high.
Below, news journalist Mishal Husain left the BBC this week after twenty six years service. To me she was a remarkable interviewer - always calm and fluent, pursuing her interviewees in a polite but purposeful manner. She oozed intelligence and clear-headedness and refused to be intimidated. With the exception of Justin Webb, no other presenter on the Radio 4 "Today" programme could compare with her. As she departed on Tuesday of this week she said smilingly that she had been granted a farewell song request and the song she had chosen was "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees. It seemed such a sweet and humble choice.
Finally, not a woman but a little girl who is destined to become a woman in the fullness of time. It's our little Phoebe - less than a month short of her fourth birthday. We took her to Millhouses Park on Thursday afternoon and as she negotiated the climbing structure, I noticed a possible picture through the curved opening on the red wall at the end. Winter sunlight was falling nicely upon it. I didn't have my camera with me so I asked Shirley to snap a picture with her smartphone and here is the result...
I don't know how Phoebe's adult life will work out but of course I hope that it is a happy one in which, as a woman, she fulfils some of her dreams. I want her to feel proud of who she is. Along the way, I hope she meets kind, respectful men who view women as their equals and do not seek to underestimate or abuse them. In this regard, the world still has a long way to go.
Such a nice post championing strong women. Small Phoebe has such good adult role models in her life she is bound to be a lovely and successful woman. Sometimes it seems the world is going backwards in how they treat women. That is sad.
ReplyDeleteGisèle Pelicot's story was so horrendous that I shook my head in despair. How could a large bunch of my fellow men abuse a woman like that?
DeleteAgree with you there, and I believe I read her husband was in on it.
DeleteWithout him it would not have happened.
DeleteGreat comparisons in this post and hope for the future for Phoebe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Red.
DeleteI hadn't heard of Gisèle Pelicot until recently, but what a horrifying tale; good on her for facing down those who attacked her. Hopefully her strength will empower other women to come forward and call out their rapists.
ReplyDeleteThat was part of her reasoning - to empower other women and to bring this horror into the light.
DeleteI don't even understand how Gisele's husband could do that to anybody, no less his wife. It's beyond despicable and I'm so glad that the men are being held accountable.
ReplyDeleteI hope Phoebe is a strong woman who doesn't put up with any shit from men, I hope that for all girls. And for my grandson, I hope that he is a compassionate, kind man who treats women with respect.
Already, Phoebe doesn't put up with any shit from her grandpa.
DeleteThat awful story was in our newspaper today. What a horrible man her husband was, and all the men who took advantage. It seems not much progress at all has been made in the "respect for women" stakes. I truly hope Phoebe has the future you would like for her, and every other little girl in the world. Boys too of course.
ReplyDeleteMay Gisèle Pelicot's husband rot in hell.
DeleteMadame Pelicot deserves all our respect and admiration for how she chose to tackle the nightmare that her life turned out to be. It was her decision for the trial to be public, not because she craved the limelight but because she craves justice.
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with the journalist, but I hope she will keep contributing to what good journalism is all about.
Phoebe‘s picture is wonderful! Of course nobody can really tell what her future holds, but she is having the best start in life a child could wish for.
Thanks for reading this and for your kind support through the years.
DeleteI'd like to see Gisèle Pelicot receive some kind of honorary award.
ReplyDeleteI don't know of the BBC interviewer but I sure nothing will be dug up about her past, unlike some.
Phoebe, living in a rich country, with terrific people to care for her, will have the best chances in life. She was born very lucky. May she thrive. The photo taken on Shirley's phone is very good. Have you considered a Christmas present for yourself? Get smart. You deserve it.
Get smart? I think you are talking about a phone. I don't want one but I am sure that the day when I simply have to have one is fast approaching.
DeleteYour words " destined to become a woman" reminded me of a tiny letter I found in an autograph book that belonged to my Grandmother. It was a letter from her grandparents, dated 1890, written to her as a one year old going on her first holiday with her parents. One part of it said " if you should grow to be a woman" and then went on to wish her good things. I guess growing to adulthood wasn't such a given in those days!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet discovery Frances. I would like to think that there is much more equality these days but Gisèle Pelicot's awful story casts doubt on that assumption.
DeleteThe Pelicot story has made me feel ill, the more details that emerged during the whole disgusting saga. There are some despicable animals living amongst us.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, not all men are like that. I find it impossible to identify with them in any way.
DeleteWe need to work for a society where all people are viewed as equal with dignity and respect.
ReplyDeleteAnd Gisèle Pelicot's bravery is very much related to that quest.
DeleteHoping Phoebe will grow into a world where all women are respected and not just seen as the playthings or slaves of men. In particular, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Pakistan take note. The Gisele Pelicot case was indeed amazing and she has my respect for waiving anonymity, as she was right not to be ashamed of something that was not her doing.
ReplyDeleteThe Gisèle Pelicot story reminds us all that some men still find pleasure in abusing women - treating them as objects rather than as fellow human beings. I find it almost impossible to relate to such men.
DeleteI followed the Gisele Pelicot trial here and the most horrifying thing about it to me was the fact that so many men of all walks of life and levels of society just absolutely accepted the husband's offer to rape her. I don't think this story is about the dignity and bravery of one woman (although that is absolutely the truth of her) but of the horrendous proof that men, given the chance, will act like animals. No. Animals do not even act like this. I bet that a large majority of those men would have shaken their heads and said, "Not me" to the very idea if it had been presented to them as a concept but when given the real opportunity by her HUSBAND who obviously owned her, they stepped right up.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but this is the way I see it.
And how many of those men had beloved daughters? Granddaughters? Wives of their own?
Not all men would accept such a disgusting invitation Mary. I certainly wouldn't , nor would my son and I feel sure that Glen and Vergil wouldn't either. Please don't put us all in the same basket as the animals who raped Gisèle Pelicot. The way they abused her she might as well have been a plastic sex doll - not a living, breathing human being.
DeleteLove the picture of Phoebe!
ReplyDeleteToday my grandson, Adam, is 1 year old. I wonder what his life will be like and I hope it is happy, healthy and peaceful. So many changes occurred during my life - I wonder what changes will happen for my grandchildren.
It does not feel we are heading to peace and harmony in the world any time soon.
DeleteThat's a great picture of Phoebe! Madame Pelicot is a hero, rightfully so, for helping to bring such atrocities to light. There are too many people who believe things like that couldn't happen in our modern age.
ReplyDeleteGlad you gave the Phoebe picture a thumbs up Steve.
DeleteI wonder what the next "unbelievable" atrocity will be.
I'm in awe of her courage and strength.
Delete