Gisele Pelicot: A Hymn to Life
If you are unfamiliar with the story of Gisele Pelicot, prepare yourself. It’s mind boggling.
I’ve followed this story since it first made it to the US news cycle from France.
The Reader’s Digest Version is: Ms. Pelicot’s (ex) husband had been drugging her, assaulting her, and inviting other men into their home to assault her as well.
Even more astonishing is how she found out about her abuse. Her husband was arrested for a crime related to voyeurism. This led the authorities to find videos taken of the assaults of his unconscious wife.
The story is abhorrent. The behavior is egregious. But Gisele Pelicot is a marvel.
The story first made world news because of the abuse she suffered. She, however, changed the narrative and took her power back.
As professionals, our time is valuable. Dr. Weeks created the Mitigation Aide Research Archive because there isn’t enough focused, data-backed research available in easily digestible formats.
Normally, in France, these trials are closed so no one from the public sees the evidence. This is normally done to protect the victims. Gisele Pelicot said no. She opened the trial to the public.
She refused to carry the shame of her abusers.
So, she sat there for the trial of an incomprehensible number of men. The videos of these men assaulting her were played in public. She made the abusers watch with her in the room. She refused to carry the shame and became an ICON and an inspiration to others who have been sexually abused.
When A Hymn to Life came out, I read it immediately.
This is her story.
How she came to learn of being the victim of such horrible abuse and what she went through during the time from discovery through the trial.
It is a beautiful book.
I know how weird that sounds. How can a story about a woman’s journey through the most horrific experience be beautiful?
It just is.
It is real and raw and does not gloss over the emotional conflict of loving someone who perpetrates unimaginable harm to you.
Why I recommend A Hymn to Life by Gisele Pelicot
- It is an inspiration to survivors of sexual abuse.
- It is a brave and compelling story.
- For the partners of my clients who have sexually offended, it is the only book I have ever read that articulates the struggle of coming to grips with your partner doing something so egregious that you knew nothing about.
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