Anti-Rape Condom?

Mad4stevie · #1 08-31-2005, 06:45 PM

South Africa anti-rape condom aims to stop attacks

KLEINMOND, South Africa (Reuters) - A South African inventor unveiled a new anti-rape female condom on Wednesday that hooks onto an attacker's penis and aims to cut one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the world.

"Nothing has ever been done to help a woman so that she does not get raped and I thought it was high time," Sonette Ehlers, 57, said of the "rapex", a device worn like a tampon that has sparked controversy in a country used to daily reports of violent crime.

Police statistics show more than 50,000 rapes are reported every year, while experts say the real figure could be four times that as they say most rapes of acquaintances or children are never reported.

Ehlers said the "rapex" hooks onto the rapist's skin, allowing the victim time to escape and helping to identify perpetrators.

"He will obviously be too pre-occupied at this stage," she told reporters in Kleinmond, a small holiday village about 100km (60 miles) east of Cape Town. "I promise you he is going to be too sore. He will go straight to hospital."

The device, made of latex and held firm by shafts of sharp barbs, can only be removed from the man through surgery which will alert hospital staff, and ultimately, the police, she said.

It also reduces the chances of a woman falling pregnant or contracting AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases from the attacker by acting in the same way as a female condom.

South Africa has more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country, with one in nine of its 45 million population infected.

Ehlers, who showed off a prototype on Wednesday, said women had tried it for comfort and it had been tested on a plastic male model but not yet on a live man. Production was planned to start next year.

But the "rapex" has raised fears amongst anti-rape activists that it could escalate violence against women.

"If a victim is wearing such a device it may enrage the attacker further and possibly result in more harm being caused," said Sam Waterhouse, advocacy co-ordinator for Rape Crisis.

Other critics say the condom is mediaeval and barbaric -- an accusation Ehlers says should be directed rather at the act of rape.

"This is not about vengeance ... but the deed, that is what I hate," she said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050831/...NlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Interesting concept - I would have never conceived of such a thing as this! I cannot imagine that a "live" man will want to be the guineau pig for this testing!

GODDESS6 · #2 08-31-2005, 06:51 PM

this toooo funny, smart tho, but too funny

~

johndoe · #3 08-31-2005, 06:54 PM

I swear they better pay the guy who tests that something in the millions...

Its a good idea, though...

estranged4life · #4 08-31-2005, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

South Africa anti-rape condom aims to stop attacks

The device, made of latex and held firm by shafts of sharp barbs, can only be removed from the man through surgery which will alert hospital staff, and ultimately, the police, she said.

Ehlers, who showed off a prototype on Wednesday, said women had tried it for comfort and it had been tested on a plastic male model but not yet on a live man. Production was planned to start next year.

lack of volunteers??? They (The rapists) act man enough to violate a woman let em be man enough to quality check it cause it sure sounds like that would leave 'em with a lasting memory (And alotta pain.)

GateandGarden · #5 08-31-2005, 06:55 PM

Good idea but...the whole time I was reading it I felt like I was reading something out of The Onion!

amber · #6 08-31-2005, 07:02 PM

what's going on down there is enough to make you lose hope in the human race. I've seen several shows on it, it's....indescribably disgusting. a huge proportion of girl children, and some babies too, get raped. I don't know if this will help, but god I hope it does. I think that lady is somewhat right, that it could incite rage in the perp - they better make it so painful that he won't be able to think about anything else.

michelle2677 · #7 08-31-2005, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

[B]Other critics say the condom is mediaeval and barbaric -- an accusation Ehlers says should be directed rather at the act of rape.

"This is not about vengeance ... but the deed, that is what I hate," she said.

barbaric?? who gives a *****?? if someone rapes me, I'm all about vengeance....I guess it's better than having mr happy CUT off...which would be the alternative for me...

diamondsnake · #8 08-31-2005, 07:32 PM

So, is a woman expected to wear this all day, every day for her entire life? I mean, how can she plan for an attack?

michelle2677 · #9 08-31-2005, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondsnake

So, is a woman expected to wear this all day, every day for her entire life? I mean, how can she plan for an attack?

yeah..I was kinda wondering that too...."oh mr big ugly guy...could you hold just a sec while I slip this condom in that is gonna rip you're weewee apart...this will only take...wait....just....a sec...o.k..."

diamondsnake · #10 08-31-2005, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelle2677

yeah..I was kinda wondering that too...."oh mr big ugly guy...could you hold just a sec while I slip this condom in that is gonna rip you're weewee apart...this will only take...wait....just....a sec...o.k..."

My thoughts exactly...

gldstwmn · #11 08-31-2005, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondsnake

So, is a woman expected to wear this all day, every day for her entire life? I mean, how can she plan for an attack?

That's what I'm wondering.

strandinthewind · #12 08-31-2005, 08:02 PM

It likely will never pass Constitutional muster for two reasons:

1. it is inflicting a punishment prior to conviction of a crime

2. bad women can use it to punish someone not actually raping them, e.g. a cheating husband.