All Men Are Complicit: The Case of Gisèle Pelicot and Society’s Failure to Protect Women

All Men Are Complicit: The Case of Gisèle Pelicot and Society’s Failure to Protect Women

Pelicot trial: Accused men confronted with abuse videos in French mass rape case (bbc.com)

The harrowing case of Gisèle Pelicot from France has sent shockwaves across the globe. Her husband, Dominique Pelicot, confessed to drugging her and enabling 50 men to rape her over the course of a decade. The horror of the crime is incomprehensible, not just because of the husband’s actions, but because of the number of men involved and how not one of them intervened. Dominique was only caught when a woman named Nathalie reported him for harassment at a supermarket, leading to police finding videos of Dominique abusing his wife.

Victim of Dominique Pelicot on how her report led to France mass rape trial | World News | Sky News

This tragedy isn’t just about one monstrous man; it lays bare the broader truth that men, as a collective, are complicit in the abuse and oppression of women, particularly when they remain silent or actively participate in violence against them.

Yes, All Men

Though this nightmare unfolded in the small French town of Mazan, it exposes a grim truth about men around the world. The men involved in this case were not outliers—they were normal citizens, seen as responsible, everyday men by those around them. And yet, none stepped forward to help. This case asks us to reflect on how many men in our own lives—neighbors, coworkers, or even those we consider friends—might participate in or condone such violence against women. If this could happen in one town, it can happen anywhere.

This isn’t just a French issue; it’s a global one. Wherever you are, the men walking around you—the ones you live next to, work with, and interact with daily—might be capable of the same indifference or active harm. If 50 men in one town could participate in such abuse, imagine how many more globally would do the same, given the opportunity. It’s a terrifying reality, especially considering how these “normal” men could be part of your life, quietly capable of such monstrous behavior. Yes, all men.

A Conclusion That Cannot Be Ignored

Gisèle Pelicot is a brave woman for allowing the trial to be public, in order to expose the inherent depravity of males. What she went through is a severe tragedy, but young women today can avoid the same fate by recognizing the dangerous realities of relying on men, and by rejecting societal pressures to engage with them.

Whether men are participating in the abuse or standing by as bystanders, their complicity allows a culture of violence to continue unchecked. Gisèle Pelicot’s story proves that women cannot trust men, as a group, to protect them. This culture of male dominance and indifference makes it impossible for women to rely on men, whether individually or institutionally, to safeguard their well-being.

Women cannot expect men to change or to rise up to protect them from violence. The most effective way to avoid this kind of systemic abuse is to not date men, marry men, or engage with them in vulnerable situations. For real change to happen, women need to prioritize their own autonomy and safety over societal expectations of relationships with men. The systems are failing, and the only true protection lies in stepping away from male dependence altogether. Choose freedom, choose 4B. ♀