#yourbodymychoice — Public Fediverse posts

Between what’s happening in America and the Gisele Pelicot trial - my heart is breaking for women all over the world. It feels like we’re rolling back decades of hard won gains.

The Pelicot trial in particular seems to be getting little attention in the U.S…. And I often wonder why that is. It’s a landmark case that warrants more media exposure. Are they at the point where they don’t want to see a strong fierce woman fighting back?

Whenever I hear another detail from the trial - I feel sick. It just keeps getting worse.

Imagine thinking you’re in a loving marriage - and suddenly finding out your husband has been inviting men to assault you while you’re unconscious?

Not only was her husband drugging her and soliciting men to assault her - he was downplaying her concerns about her memory loss and convinced her she was experiencing early onset Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

He would accompany her to doctors appointments - where she was desperately trying to get answers and help - and tell the doctors that she was “forgetful.”

I read one statement that said she asked him if he was drugging her once…

And he cried and gaslit her by saying “how could you think I could ever do that?”

What else was she supposed to think. She had unexplained vaginal bruising, blackouts, memory loss … it was more than a fair question.

This went on for ten years. Over 80 men raped her - some multiple times. Men of all ages and professional backgrounds. Married men. Men with children. She was harmed over and over again and no one did a thing to stop it.

Even the men who declined the husband’s invitation didn’t go to the police. They didn’t go to her. They did nothing.

Now these men are on trial - and many are trying to say she was a co-conspirator. That she “wanted” them to assault her.

This is where rape culture, misogyny and patriarchy lead.

To a place where men blame the victim even when the victim was chemically sedated by her husband

It’s not “our body your choice”. It’s MY body MY choice. That means you aren’t entitled to my body, my affection or my attention. That means a spouse can not make decisions on my behalf.

I decide what happens to my own body.

If you take that choice away from us - if you force yourself on someone - that’s the definition of assault. A husband can not consent for his wife. It doesn’t work that way and I don’t believe for a second these men thought it did. They knew what they were doing - and they did it anyways.

If you’re not following the Pelicot trial - I recommend checking it out. It’s a stunning example of why the “not all men” argument rings hollow in our ears.

Why we’re angry & fighting back. Why we must keep fighting in the face of increasing threats to our safety & autonomy.

#election #abortion #womensrights #womenshealth #abortionishealthcare #patriarchy #fuckthepatriarchy #misogyny #yourbodymychoice #rape #rapeculture #believevictims #giselepelicot