<br><br>**From Victim to Victor Gisele Pelicot's Powerful Memoir on Surviving Rape and Empowering Women**<br><br>As a storyteller, it is our duty to share the stories that need to be told. And what a story Gisele Pelicot has to share. A survivor of mass rapes organized by her ex-husband in southern France, Gisele has published her memoirs about the trial that turned her into an internationally celebrated figure in the movement to end violence against women.<br><br>**The Ordeal Surviving Decades of Abuse**<br><br>Gisele was drugged with tranquilizers for a decade by her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, then repeatedly raped by him and dozens of men he recruited online. The 2024 trial in Avignon garnered global attention as Gisele declined the option to hold it behind closed doors, saying she wanted the world to know what she had been subjected to.<br><br>**A Journey of Survival and Empowerment**<br><br>In her memoirs, titled A Hymn to Life Shame has to Change Sides (and Et la joie de vivre in French), Gisele shares her journey of survival and empowerment. The book, written with journalist and novelist Judith Perrignon, will be published by Flammarion on February 17, in a worldwide release in 22 languages.<br><br>**Courage in the Face of Shame A Leading Figure in the Fight Against Violence**<br><br>Gisele's courageous decision to lift the closed-door proceedings and her dignity during the hearing contributed to making her a leading figure in the fight against violence against women. In an excerpt published by Le Monde, she writes I would have been afraid of the stares, those damned stares that a woman of my generation has always had to deal with... Perhaps shame fades all the more easily when you're 70, and no one pays attention to you anymore.<br><br>**From Victimhood to Victoriously Sharing Her Story**<br><br>Gisele's memoir chronicles her journey from victimhood to victoriously sharing her story. She writes about her vague feelings before the trial The closer it got, the more I imagined myself becoming a hostage to their stares, their lies, their cowardice, and their contempt... Wasn't I protecting them by closing the door? Her book also recounts her disbelief when police first showed her photos of the rapes taken by her husband.<br><br>**Empowering Women Through Storytelling**<br><br>Gisele's story is not just one of survival but also of empowerment. Her memoir serves as a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of sharing our experiences with others. As Gisele says Shame has to change sides. In other words, it's time for shame to shift from being something that silences women to something that galvanizes them.<br><br>**Conclusion The Power of Storytelling**<br><br>Gisele Pelicot's memoir is a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling and the impact it can have on our lives. As storytellers, we have a responsibility to share these stories with others, using tabula rasa as a tool to create a blank slate for new experiences and perspectives. By doing so, we can empower women like Gisele Pelicot to share their stories and inspire change.<br><br>**Keywords** Memoirs, Rape Trial, Gisele Pelicot, Empowering Women, Storytelling, Tabula Rasa
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