Of all the information stored in your mental archives, is knowing yourblood type something you can recall quickly? Probably not, and this knowledge can be crucial in critical moments or when you need to fill out medical documentation.Two years ago, I was filling out an application to volunteer at a children's hospital and on the form, I was asked to provide my blood type. Luckily, I knew off the top of my head that I'm type O-positive, but I wanted documentation to confirm this information. I called my mom to see if blood type is listed on my birth certificate -- no luck. I checked my physician's health portal -- also no luck.This got me wondering: How does someone discover their blood type if they don't already know it?You're not alone if you have no clue what your blood type is. According to a 2019 CBS News poll, only 66% of Americans reported knowing their blood type. Considering blood type can be vital to understanding your health, including yourheart health -- and saving your life in an emergency -- it's important to know what kind of blood courses through your veins. The good news is that finding out yourblood typeis relatively simple, and you have options. Below are three easy ways to find out your blood type.Blood type basics CNET Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive and AB-negative. But what determines blood type and what does that blood type mean?Blood types are determined by antigens -- a substance that triggers an immune response -- on the surface of red blood cells. There are ABO antigens, which designate ABO blood types. This is determined by the ABO gene. For example:Type Ablood type has the A antigenType Bblood type has the B antigenType ABblood type has both the A and B antigenType Odoesn't produce any A or B antigenThere are also Rhesus (Rh) antigens, which determine if blood is "positive" or "negative." If you have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you are Rh positive. If you don't have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you have negative blood. Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive and AB-negative. Ekachai Lohacamonchai/EyeEm/Getty ImagesHow to find your blood type?Here's three main ways to type your blood:Have your doctor do a blood testDonate bloodUse an at-home blood test 1. Clinical testOne of the easiest and most effective ways to determine your blood type is to have your doctor perform a test. A professional will draw blood and then perform two tests on the blood sample: forward typing and reverse typing.During forward typing, the blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Based on whether the blood cells stick together when mixed with the antibodies, your blood type can be determined from there. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type B blood, you have type B blood. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type A blood, you have type A blood.To confirm the result, the next step is reverse typing, meaning the blood sample without red blood cells -- called a serum -- is mixed with type A and type B blood cells. Type A blood will have antibodies against Type B blood in the sample and type B blood will have antibodies against Type A blood. Type O blood will contain antibodies against Type A and Type B. So, if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with type B blood cells, you have type A blood, and if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with type A blood cells, you have type B blood.I recommend calling your doctor's office to see what a blood type test costs out-of-pocket and if it's covered by insurance.2. Donate bloodThis is an easy -- and free -- way to determine blood type, but results are not immediate.If you donate to a blood drive, you can simply ask the staff about your blood type. Blood usually is not tested right away, so it may take up to a few weeks to get the results. With at-home kits, you can determine your blood type in just a few minutes. EldonCard3. At-home blood testAt-home tests are relatively straightforward. You will usually start by wiping your finger with an alcohol wipe and then be required to prick your finger with a disposable lancet to draw blood. Then, you will wipe blood on the provided card. Depending on how the blood dries, clumps or spreads, you will be able to compare your blood stain to a results card. Within minutes, you'll be able to determine your blood type.For more, try these seven methods for sneaking more exercise into your daily routine.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereRockstars annual winter update has dropped for GTA Online. This means Los Santos is now completely covered in snow and ice with players able to pick up snowballs and lob them at other residents. It also means the return of the Christmas truck to Grand Theft Auto. Before the snow disappears and the sun returns, players will want to find the Happy Holidays hauler Christmas truck location in GTA Online 2024 so they can raid it for some free gifts.In regard to Rockstars heavily-anticipated return to Vice City, the release date for GTA 6is still scheduled for sometime in 2025. There have been rumors of a delay, but, right now, these rumors have been debunked. Fans have dissected literally every second of the trailer that came out over a year ago, and naturally were all starving for more details to come out next year.But, before the new year begins, the Grand Theft Auto community should make sure to enjoy Rockstars yearly winter update. The Happy Holidays hauler has returned to GTA Online for 2024, and you can find its location by knowing the route it travels all day.How to find the Happy Holidays hauler Christmas truck in GTA Online 2024In order to find the Happy Holidays hauler, you need at least two players in your GTA Online play session. Assuming you are roaming Los Santos winter wonderland with at least another person, you will find the Christmas truck driving along a very specific route.Below is an image of the route it drives along for 2024:Image credit: gtawebThe above image comes courtesy of gtaweb. Although it shows the route you need to follow to eventually come head-to-head with the Christmas truck, you can check out gtawebs interactive map to find its specific location at the time you are playing.You cant miss the lorry as its red-and-white, and it is basically Rockstars spoof of the Christmas truck from iconic Coca-Cola adverts. Once you find the truck, all you need to do is drive behind it. The vehicle will sporadically drop free Christmas gifts that provide the following rewards:MoneySnacksAmmoUgly Sprunk festive sweaterUgly eCola festive sweaterFor more GTA 6, Take-Two has explained why the game is not launching on PC. Grand Theft Auto OnlinePlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox OneGenre(s):Action, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Image: NintendoWhile it's common to associate Nintendo with big names such as Satoru Iwata, Shigeru Miyamoto and Reggie Fils-Aim, there are plenty of other important people who helped make the company and brand what it is today.As part of this legacy, Nintendo veteran and industry visionary Don James - who joined Nintendo of America in 1981 and retired earlier this year - will be recognised at the 28th D.I.C.E Awards by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences with a lifetime achievement award.During his time at Nintendo, he "oversaw numerous departments" as executive vice president of operations. Here's what he had to say about this award:Don James: I am truly honored to receive this award from the Academy. This industry is full of so many talented and creative people, and its been an absolute privilege getting to know and work with so many of them over the decades. My career has truly been a wild and fun ride, and I am proud of all the opportunities I was fortunate enough to receive.And here are more details about his long career at Nintendo including the work he did with the Starlight Children's Foundation and his involvement with the ESRB rating system and Electronic Entertainment Expo:"Don James joined Nintendo of America in 1981 as one of its first employees. As executive vice president of operations, he oversaw numerous departments including consumer services, design, experiential marketing, real estate & facilities, manufacturing engineering, quality control, supply chain operations, purchasing, product testing, technical services, and technical translation. During his tenure, Don was instrumental in the creation of the video game industrys current ESRB rating system and the creation of the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), currently known as the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), where he served on the board. In the early 1990s, he was key to the creation of the world-renowned Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Don was also an integral part of the AIAS, serving as a board member since 1991."Don was also the key steward of Nintendo of Americas relationship with Starlight Childrens Foundation. He co-designed the Nintendo GameCube Starlight Fun Center in 2002 and led Nintendo of Americas support of Starlight to bring games and movies to seriously ill children in hospitals. Don is also an active supporter of philanthropic organizations, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Pratt Fine Arts Center."Don was seemingly so influential within the walls of Nintendo that the character Pauline is apparently the name of his ex-wife.The 28th D.I.C.E Awards will take place at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas on 13th Febuary 2025. This AIAS lifetime achievement award is described as being "reserved for individuals whose accompaniments span a broad range of disciplines over a lengthy career in the industry". Previous recipients include Howard Lincoln and Satoru IwataSplatoon and Super Mario Maker among award nomineesOn behalf of the community and team here at Nintendo Life, thanks Don for helping Nintendo and the video game industry grow.[source interactive.org]Share:224 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherNintendo Shares Special Message: "Thank You For Joining Us Now And Into The Future"The Switch might be winding down, but more games are on the wayYour 'Nintendo Switch Year In Review 2024' Stats Are Available NowWhat's your hour count?

What just happened? The prospect of future FromSoftware games becoming PlayStation exclusives started looking more likely yesterday when Sony increased its stake in the studio's parent company to 10%. Sony paid $300 million for the new shares of Kadokawa, and while it is now the company's largest shareholder, it doesn't own it outright there were rumors that Sony was planning an acquisition. It was reported in November that Sony was in talks to acquire Kadokawa Corporation. In addition to FromSoftware, Kadokawa owns Spike Chunsoft, developer of the Danganronpa series, as well as Acquire (Octopath Traveler) and Gotcha Gotcha Games (RPG Maker and Pixel Game Maker).Instead of a full takeover, Sony and Kadokawa have entered into a "strategic capital and business alliance agreement." This includes Sony increasing its shares in Kadokawa from the previously owned 2% to 10%.Kadokawa owns 70% of FromSoftware, while Sony already has a 14% stake in the developer of the Souls games, Sekiro, Bloodborne, Armored Core, and more. Chinese gaming giant Tencent owns around 16% of the firm.Sony and Kadokawa write that their alliance is intended to maximize both companies' IP value globally and facilitate wider and deeper collaboration. That includes the discovery of new creators and turning Kadokawa's IPs into live-action films and TV dramas globally, co-producing anime works, and further expanding the publishing of Kadokawa's games.Before you get too excited about a Dark Souls/Elden Ring live-action show or anime, Kadokawa has film and animation studios, including those focused on anime. Sony, of course, already owns anime streaming services Crunchyroll and Funimation, which is a big driver behind its interest in Kadokawa.Reports that Sony was set to acquire Kadokawa caused concern among non-PlayStation-owning Dark Souls/Elden Ring fans that the series would become exclusive to its console. Demon's Souls and Bloodborne remain PlayStation-only, and Sony often waits a long time before releasing its big games on PC.It's possible that Sony buying more shares of Kadokawa is preparation for a full takeover further down the line. Experts estimate that a buyout would cost around $4.3 billion, more than the $3.7 billion it paid for Bungie back in 2022. Sony might even buy 50% of Kadokawa so it could become a subsidiary that it doesn't fully own. // Related Stories

An art therapist confronts a mysterious case in Clare Chamberss novel of 1960s London.

Selected by Charles Scribner III, the author, most recently, of Scribners: Five Generations in Publishing.

The richest of the rich can use life insurance to avoid estate and income taxes.Private-placement life insurance is perfectly legal unless a new bill passes.A financial advisor tells Insider how the insurance saves the wealthy tens of millions of dollars.Life insurance is probably the least sexy area of financial planning. But for the richest of the rich, policies can slash tens of millions of dollars off their tax bills.Private-placement life insurance is a little-known tax-avoidance tactic. When structured correctly, PPLI policies can be used to pass on assets from stocks to yachts to heirs without incurring an estate tax."In the US, people sell life insurance as a middle-class way of structuring assets," Michael Malloy, a wealth advisor who has specialized in PPLI for 20 years, told Business Insider in 2022. "But PPLI is a completely different animal."The PPLI industry enables a few thousand ultra-rich American taxpayers to shelter at least $40 billion, according to an investigation by the Senate Finance Committee. The report estimated that the average PPLI policyholder is worth well over $100 million.PPLI is legalfor now. On December 16, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden released a draft bill to close the loophole. Under the Protecting Proper Life Insurance from Abuse Act, PPLI policies would be treated as investment funds, not life insurance or annuity policies, which would eliminate the tax benefits."Life insurance is an essential source of financial security for tens of millions of middle-class families in America, so we cannot have a bunch of ultra-rich tax dodgers abusing its special tax treatment to set up tax-free hedge funds and shelter oodles of cash," Wyden said in a written statement.While tax savings are the primary draw of PPLI for US clients, those in the Middle East or Latin America are often looking to use trusts to conceal information about specific assets from corrupt governments, Malloy said."Clients don't want an organized crime ring bribing an underpaid tax official to get information on their family," he said.US taxpayers are required to report to the IRS only the cash value of a foreign life-insurance policy, not the assets within the trust.These offshore life insurers in jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands and Bermuda typically require at least $5 million as the upfront premium. Malloy advises that clients have at least $10 million in assets to make PPLI worthwhile. His clients usually hold at least $50 million in assets.Here is how PPLI worksIn short, an attorney sets up a trust for a wealthy client. The trust owns the life-insurance policy that's created offshore.The PPLI policy premiums are funded with assets. The assets must be diversified typically with at least five different asset classes and can include stocks and business interests, as well as tangible assets like yachts and real estate.Depending on the client's age, nationality, and other factors, the death benefit can, in theory, max out at $100 million, Malloy said.If structured correctly, the benefit and the assets in the policy are passed to the children without incurring an estate tax. A 40% federal estate tax applies to estate values topping $13.61 million for individuals and $27.22 million for married couples.Unlike with policies from US insurers, clients can cancel their policies without paying a massive surrender fee. The assets also grow within the trust tax-free. The cash value of the PPLI policy assets is held in a separate account, and this cash can be disbursed to the policy holder or invested. Investing in hedge funds is a popular use of PPLI assets.But there's a catch. Policyholders have limited control over investment decisions. They cannot give directives to the asset manager to buy a certain number of shares in Apple, for instance.It also requires a small army of professionals, including trust and estate attorneys, asset managers, custodians, and tax advisors. Since PPLI is relevant only to the ultrawealthy, few in wealth management or law are familiar with it."There's no questions on the CPA exam or the bar exam about PPLI, and asset managers are kind of skeptical," he said. "They think you're going to take assets away. Actually, the assets become stickier and get more alpha because the client pays less tax."How the proposed bill would endanger PPLIUnder Wyden's proposed legislation, most PPLI policies would be classified as "private placement contracts" (PPCs) rather than life insurance policies. As such, any accumulated earnings and death benefits would be taxed.The bill would apply to future and existing PPLI policies, giving policyholders 180 days to liquify the assets or transfer them. Insurers who dare to issue or reinsure the policies will no longer have the benefit of secrecy. To better enable the IRS to enforce the bill, insurers will have to report all PPCs or face a $1 million fine for each 30-day period that they fail to do so.The bill faces steep odds of passing with Donald Trump's reelection and a Republican House and Senate. The insurance industry is counting on it."This legislation is an attack on all forms of permanent life insurance and, by extension, an attack on holistic financial planning," said Marc Cadin, CEO of trade group Finseca, in a statement. "We look forward to working with the new Congress and the Trump administration to advance policies to move our country forward rather than raising taxes on life insurance."

Michael Allen stopped buying pricey Christmas presents for his friends and family in college.His financial priorities changed after leaving the Marine Corps and working toward his degree.Allen values time with loved ones over material gifts and emphasizes memories over money.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michael Allen, a 54-year-old author from Titusville, Florida. It has been edited for length and clarity.In 1995, I realized I couldn't give expensive gifts anymore. I was used to buying gifts to impress my loved ones, and I received nice gifts as well. At a younger age, I would get things like an Atari with games, boxing gloves, or a football. Gift cards, nice clothes, and even a watch were more common presents as I grew older.As a college student and a recently retired Marine, my priorities were school and food. My next goal after serving in the Marine Corps was to get a degree. Not wanting to participate in the "who bought the most expensive present" game made sense.I was getting by on side jobsI tutored other college students and worked as a bouncer. Although I was only making enough money to cover my necessities, I was looking forward to achieving my goals of becoming an English teacher and a writer.Buying extravagant things at the expense of putting myself in huge debt didn't seem attractive. I knew my financial situation had changed throughout my life, and I had to spend and save accordingly.Reflecting on the hard work I put in made me extremely proud rather than ashamed of my financial background.I decided to have a conversation with my friends and familyOne day before Christmas, I asked my friends and family to lower their expectations regarding future gifts. I told them about my financial situation, what I could spend on, and what I was trying to accomplish.Spending exorbitant amounts on Christmas was out of the question. Being open and honest about my struggles and primary issues worked out in my favor. I wasn't nervous to have this conversation.Most of them understood, and I was truly relieved once I confessed. It immediately broke the needless superficial confinement I had put myself in to conform to the norms.I also prepared myself to receive less of what I had previouslyWhile some family members would still buy me costly gifts, some limited their splurging on me after this conversation. I was satisfied with getting whatever they would get me, even if it was nothing sometimes. Some even joined me in setting this boundary for themselves.I started enjoying Christmas even more without having to impress people with my gift-giving superpowers. I became accustomed to speaking my mind and being truthful at all times. When you embrace life in that manner, many burdens are lifted.Even as I make more money, gifts still don't seem important to meMy financial situation has improved, but I now sometimes only hand out one present per person. I make sure it's something meaningful and not just anything.I once made my mother a loving video, and she still plays it often. On another occasion, I built a website for my daughter and made her a book. Personalization goes a long way.Focusing on getting together with your loved ones and spending purposeful time with them are the only significant things of concern to me. Gifts are a component of Christmas, not the foundation.Memories matter, not money. Food, drinks, old movies, and a good time is all I care about getting from anyone.

Biden announced $4.28 billion in student-debt cancellation for 54,900 borrowers in Public Service Loan Forgiveness.The relief is a result of the Education Department's ongoing fixes to PSLF.President-elect Donald Trump is unlikely to continue Biden's student-debt relief efforts.President Joe Biden announced more student-loan forgiveness with one month left until he leaves the White House.On Friday, Biden and his Education Department said they have approved $4.28 billion in student debt for 54,900 borrowers in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after 10 years of qualifying payments.The relief is a result of ongoing improvements to PSLF, including a waiver that expired in October 2022 that allowed payments that previously did not qualify for relief to count toward borrowers' forgiveness progress."Four years ago, the Biden-Harris Administration made a pledge to America's teachers, service members, nurses, first responders, and other public servants that we would fix the broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and I'm proud to say that we delivered," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.This latest relief brings the total student-loan forgiveness under Biden to about $180 billion for nearly 5 million Americans, including $78 billion for just over 1 million borrowers enrolled in PSLF.It's unclear if the Biden administration will announce more student-debt relief before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Still, it caps off a tumultuous past few years for student-loan borrowers hoping for broad debt relief Biden's first student-loan forgiveness plan was struck down by the Supreme Court last summer, and his Plan B for debt relief is now in court following legal challenging from Republican-led states.On top of that, 8 million borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan Biden's new income-driven repayment plan intended to make monthly payments cheaper with a shorter timeline to forgiveness are in limbo as they wait for a court to decide if the plan can move forward.Even if Biden's plans for broader relief do survive their legal challenges, it's unlikely Trump's administration would continue those efforts. Preston Cooper, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, previously told Business Insider that Biden "has taken a stance of, 'We want to try and forgive as much debt as possible through various different programs.'""And to put it mildly, we're not going to see that same attitude under the Trump administration," Cooper said.Trump proposed eliminating PSLF during his first term, but doing so requires congressional approval. Republican control of Congress and the White House means that Trump would likely have more success achieving his goals."From Day One of my Administration, I promised to make sure that higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity," Biden said in a statement. "Because of our actions, millions of people across the country now have the breathing room to start businesses, save for retirement, and pursue life plans they had to put on hold because of the burden of student loan debt."

Editors note, December 19, 12 pm ET: Dominique Pelicot, the ex-husband of Gisle Pelicot, has been found guilty of aggravated rape by a French judge. Dominique had previously confessed to drugging and raping his ex-wife and inviting strangers into their home to rape her. Fifty other men were also found guilty of related crimes.Read Voxs Marin Cogan for more on the verdict, and the implications it has for a reckoning over marital rape in France and the US.A horrifying sexual assault case playing out in France is adding to a larger French reckoning over abuse toward women. The case centers on 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot, who is accused of drugging and raping his wife, Gisle Pelicot, and inviting dozens of other men to sexually assault her while she was unconscious. Dominique Pelicot who has confessed to raping his wife repeatedly over the course of a decade is now on trial, along with 50 other defendants, who are also accused of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. Some of these defendants have admitted guilt, while others have denied it. During his testimony, Dominique Pelicot said he and all the men involved are guilty. I maintain that I am a rapist, like those in this room, Dominique Pelicot said. They all knew her condition before they came; they knew everything. They cannot say otherwise.Although she had the option of a private trial, Gisle Pelicot decided to make the proceedings public in order to support and raise awareness for other victims of similar crimes. I speak for all women who are drugged and dont know about it, I do it on behalf of all women who will perhaps never know, Gisle Pelicot said of her case. In total, police have used roughly 20,000 images her husband took of the assaults to determine that 72 men had been involved in raping her from 2011 to 2020. The Pelicot case is roiling France and comes as the country continues to grapple with accountability regarding sexual misconduct toward women. As the New York Times reported this spring, the Me Too movement had previously stalled in Frances film industry, and has found new momentum this year after prominent actor and director Judith Godrche spoke out. French writers and actors have also previously noted that the countrys attitudes toward sexual freedom have distinguished it from the US in how condemning sexual misconduct is treated. French attitudes toward morality and sex have historically always been different to the US, journalist Agns Poirier previously told the BBC. But its been brewing for years and it feels that 2024 is different.What the case isDominique Pelicots assaults on his wife were first discovered by police in November 2020, after he was initially investigated for taking photos up womens skirts at a supermarket in southeastern France, where the couple lived. After he was caught taking the photos, police searched Pelicots computer and found a folder titled Abuses on a related USB drive. In it, they discovered thousands of photos and videos of Pelicot and other men raping his wife while she was unconscious. My world fell apart, Gisle Pelicot said after police informed her of their discovery. The officers findings followed years of Gisle Pelicot experiencing memory lapses, hair loss, and weight loss, so much so she feared that she might be developing Alzheimers or another serious illness. During that time, her husband had been drugging her regularly with a combination of medications, including the anti-anxiety drug Temesta, which can act like a sedative. While Gisle Pelicot was unconscious, Dominique Pelicot invited a number of men to their home so that they could rape her. Gisle Pelicot has emphasized that she did not have any knowledge of these attacks, and did not feign unconsciousness as some of the defendants have suggested. Dominique Pelicot found the men via a messaging board called Without their knowledge on the now-shuttered website Coco, which was known for postings that involved illegal activities. On the site, Dominique Pelicot solicited men to assault his wife, giving them specific instructions, including not wearing perfume or smoking, to avoid detection. According to Dominique Pelicot, the men were active participants in the crime: They came looking for me. I was asked, I said yes. They accepted, they came. I did not handcuff anybody to make them come to my place.The identities of these defendants havent been revealed, though authorities note that they range from the ages of 26 to 74, that many have partners, and that they come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, including firefighters, journalists, and soldiers. In their search of his computer, police also found naked photos of Dominique and Gisle Pelicots daughter, Caroline Darian; Dominique Pelicot claimed during his testimony that the photos werent his and that he believed they were of someone else. Whats happened so farGisle and Dominique Pelicot, as well as Darian, all took the stand in recent weeks, and offered harrowing testimony about the assaults. Frankly, these are scenes of horror for me, Gisle Pelicot said of the videos and photos her husband took to document the rapes. They treat me like a rag doll.Prior to learning of the attacks, Gisle Pelicot had said that she had believed that she and her husband of roughly 50 years had been a close couple. Dominique Pelicot has admitted the abuse and also told a psychologist that he did it because Gisle Pelicot had rejected swinging, or sleeping with other people outside their marriage. He added during the trial that he believes a sexual assault he says he experienced as a child also contributed to his perversion.Gisle Pelicot says the decision to release her identity and to speak publicly about the case was intended to show that survivors shouldnt be ashamed of the abuse theyve suffered. Handling the case anonymously is what her attackers would have wanted, her lawyers said. Darian also described the horror she felt upon learning what her father had done, calling him the worst sexual predator of the last 20 years. Both emphasized fears that they wouldnt be able to regain any sense of stability or safety in relationships. I no longer have an identity. I dont know if Ill ever rebuild myself, Gisle Pelicot said. The defendants have been charged with aggravated rape or attempted rape, with many facing 20 years in prison if convicted. The trial is set to continue until December as the defendants make their testimony in groups. How the case factors into larger movements in FranceThe Pelicot case is just the latest to raise awareness of sexual abuses in France this year, after multiple cases of sexual misconduct by prominent actors and directors came to light. Since February, several high-profile French actresses, including Godrche, have spoken about being sexually assaulted in their teens by film directors. Notably, Godrche was invited to make remarks about this problem at the Cesar Awards, the French equivalent of the Oscars, and was received with a standing ovation. After years in which the American #MeToo movement gained traction while in France it languished, Rokhaya Diallo, a French journalist, wrote of Godrche for the Washington Post, this reception signaled that perhaps the larger culture here is finally ready to push back.Such shifts come as France has been more resistant to confronting sexual abuses in the same way the US has, with some French commentators dubbing the #MeToo movement the latest extension of puritanical American culture. But Godrches speech and the Pelicot case, as well multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against famous French actor Grard Depardieu, have put a new spotlight on the subject. Womens rights advocates have also urged lawmakers to add the term consent into the legal definition of rape, a move that French President Emmanuel Macron has said he supports. Currently, French law defines rape as an act of sexual penetration committed on a person, with violence, coercion, threat, or surprise.While there is still perhaps more skepticism in France than in the US about the legitimacy of sexual assault and sexual harassment, these attitudes are changing fast, especially as a younger generation of women and French feminists and their male allies are willing to confront these issues head-on, Laura Frader, a professor of history emerita at Northeastern University who studies gender attitudes in Europe, told Vox. The Pelicot case is certain to contribute to this trend.Update, September 17, 5:15 pm ET: This story, originally published on September 9, has been update with the details of Dominique Pelicots testimony. Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More: