I’m surprised that nobody has commented on this, It is, to be honest, totally bizarre. The obvious question is how did the victim endure such a long period of abuse without knowing anything? She was drugged but surely she would have had some sort of physical signs. She has been very brave choosing to be tried in open court. Maybe other similar cases will now come to light.
3 Likes
The subject is unpleasant for many.
Mazan is a rather pretty and unspoilt village not ten minutes from our own. It is where we have been taking our dogs for their toilettage. Never noted anything remotely strange there but I suppose all the salacious business was going on behind shuttered windows.
Very brave of the victim to surrender anonymity. Puts, literally, a human face on the subject. Hopefully, laws will change in France to give women greater protection within the confines of marriage.
5 Likes
According to french reports, she suffered various STD’s and other related problems but unfortunately in France, in many cases, women are still under the thumb of their husbands.
2 Likes
I saw it reported a short while ago. I always find surprising the detail the French press are allowed to publish in a case which, in the UK, would be sub judice.
It is indeed a strange case. It’s difficult to understand how she (apparently) had no knowledge of what was going on, or was so subjugated to her husband that she dared not say anything.
Hang on a second…a couple of comments sound as if people are laying blame at her door for not knowing! That’s victim blaming and is disgraceful.
I can think of several reasons why she was not aware.
(In general it seems that French news attracts much less interest on here, sadly.)
19 Likes
To say what for heavens sake?
9 Likes
She has waived all rights to privacy… and she shows extreme courage…
She made it quite clear that all women/everyone should know about the sort of things which go on… and, indeed, comments in French Press show that other women are now asking serious questions about their own lives/situations.
I have been following the case in Ffrench News, but did not think it a subject for discussion/dissection on this forum… others may disagree… as is their right.
7 Likes
To show that we are aware and express solidarity with the victims. I accept that some of those who use this site do not live permanently in France and therefore have little or no interest in news items that don’t directly affect them.
5 Likes
Press coverage in France and several other countries… has talked about… and shown photos/videos of the international public support which is being offered to Mme Pelicot.
I’m now muting this thread.
Begging the question, I think.
It’s certainly a very murky “permissive society” that earlier generations foisted on the young, promising freedom from any restriction and responsibility.
And a curiously patriarchal one, in the way it works out (maybe more so in France than in the UK).
I don’t see victim blaming, but some will struggle to understand how this could have happened for so long - having the details after the event can make something look very different.
Exactly. And coercive and controlling behaviour would, I think, have been a major factor.
1 Like
Might as well shut the forum down now then.
1 Like
I think this is at the root though. What can you really say about it? I’m a bit gobsmacked, and horrified of course, by the whole thing. What on earth can you say that will do it justice? I suspect that a lot of people are perhaps feeling similar.
8 Likes
Washing machines seem to be more interesting.
Because they’re all about washing our dirty linen in public!
Yes, it’s horrific. It’s as horrible as killing innocent people, but in a way that makes many of us feel dirty and awkward rather than cleanly outraged. It’s also hard for males in present society to deal with because current anti-masculine trends have tried to undermine a normal healthy masculinity and want us to all appear as misogynists. For women, there’s nothing in this to make them feel stronger or better about themselves.
So hard to see anything good about discussing this. Someone has done a thing unthinkable, and the legal process just needs to grind through and deal with them. Hopefully enough others who might be excited by such things will think twice in the future.
3 Likes
On the value of commenting, as long as not diminishing the victim, it shows how far people can talk about abhorrent subjects and it opens the door for other victims to feel a little more confident about talking about their own experience. I can’t yet but hope to one day. Why, not sure but it would help to make sense of life. Don’t be so quick to think it is more French than British.
3 Likes
Thanks for bringing your perspective to the discussion.
Thank you Ancient Mariner, very consideeate response. It helps.
2 Likes