France has long been painted as the land of romance, freedom, and progressive values. But behind the romanticised image lies a deeply troubling history when it comes to recognising sexual violence as a serious crime.
For decades, rape in France was treated less like an act of violence and more like a moral or social issue. Survivors were expected to prove not just that harm occurred, but that they fought hard enough, said “no” loudly enough, and suffered visibly enough.
And if they failed to meet those expectations, the legal system often failed them.
The Late Legal Recognition
It may come as a shock, but rape was not clearly defined as a distinct criminal offense in French law until 1980. Before that, it was tangled within vague moral and decency laws. Even marital rape wasn’t criminalised until 1990.
This meant that for most of modern history, the law effectively assumed consent within marriage, regardless of coercion or violence. This delay alone speaks volumes about whose bodies the law was protecting.
Consent Was Not the Centre
For years, French courts focused on physical resistance, visible injuries, and signs of extreme violence. If a woman froze in fear, complied under pressure, was intoxicated, or was coerced by someone in power, the absence of “violent struggle” often worked against her. The idea that consent could be withdrawn, manipulated, or never truly given took a painfully long time to gain legal ground.
The Weight of a “Seduction” Culture
French society has historically romanticised male pursuit in ways that blur dangerous lines. Older men pursuing teenage girls was often dismissed as “seduction” rather than grooming. Sexual aggression was reframed as passion. Women who accused powerful men were portrayed as manipulative or fame-hungry.
Victim-blaming wasn’t just social. It was institutional. What was she wearing? Why was she there? Did she lead him on? These questions became part of courtrooms, not just gossip circles.
Power Protected Power
One of the reasons recognition was so delayed is power. Politicians, intellectuals, artists, professors, and public figures were often shielded from consequences. Survivors faced professional ruin, character assassination, and legal intimidation. The system was structured to protect reputations, not bodies.
The #MeToo Effect in France
The global #MeToo movement forced France into uncomfortable self-reflection. Thousands of women came forward with stories of violence, coercion, and abuse that had long been buried under silence. Public outrage finally pushed lawmakers to tighten laws around sexual violence and age of consent.
But, even now, activists argue that the legal definition of consent remains insufficiently clear and that conviction rates remain painfully low.
Why Did It Take So Long?
Because recognising rape isn’t just about changing laws. It’s about dismantling: Patriarchy, Victim-shaming, Power hierarchies, and Cultural excuses for male violence. France didn’t “fail by accident”.
It failed because for decades, the system didn’t prioritise survivors. And survivors paid for that delay with silence, shame, and stolen justice.
