A South African inventor is seeking international donations so she can distribute 30,000 barbed condoms designed to thwart rapists ahead of the World Cup, to be held in South Africa in June. […]
“The hooks penetrate through the skin [but] do not go into the spongy tissue.”
The Rape-aXe will now be latched onto the penis and can only be safely removed by a doctor. Speaking to Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) this month, the inventor said that, as the rapist reels with surprise, there should be an opportunity for his victim to “jump up and run.” […]
The still-untested device caused a storm of controversy when it was first announced. There were many practical objections: the device might make the rapist angrier and more dangerous; several men might be involved; it doesn’t actually prevent rape; rapists might check for the device and remove it; the device might encourage anal rape; it could be misused by women to hurt men who are not raping them.
But the overriding criticism was a moral one: women should not have to adapt to what has been dubbed a ‘rape culture’ in South Africa. Lisa Vetten, of the Centre of Violence and Reconciliation in Johannesburg, said in 2007: “This is like going back to the days when women were forced to wear chastity belts. It is a terrifying thought that women are being made to adapt to rape.”
The First Post: ‘Rape-aXe’: World Cup fans get barbed condoms (NSFW: Not safe for work image on this page)
(via Grinding)
May 1, 2010 at 12:39 am
The best way to solve any problem is to prevent said problem from occuring.
Africa’s problems began long ago when colinizers and companies did everything they could to destroy their way of life to turn them into slaves of one form or anther. For instance, Apartheid was created by the Diamond mining companies as part of a program that began with giving people who’d lived without money since time began “Taxes” then using the threat of murder, beatings and imprisonment to force them to work.
Therefore, instead of a tribe that stays in it’s circle and everyone protects their own members, the men have to travel to work and the women have to travel to forage/shop. This, along with centuries of poverty and oppression have provoked the worst of “Tribalist” behaviors where people outside a tribe are seen as “Fair Game”. This isn’t a true thing, most traditional tribes women had great say if not open rule, and most tribes in all cultures had very good “Law of hospitality” traditions, but part of man’s darker nature.
The real solution to this problem would be to synergize their tribes again with the modern world, so “Tribal Groups” work together sharing good and bad times and can protect their territory. If this could be done, rape, even likely prostitution would disappear from the culture.
June 28, 2010 at 6:30 pm
“But the overriding criticism was a moral one: women should not have to adapt to what has been dubbed a ‘rape culture’ in South Africa.”
I am morally sickened by statements like this. The only way to fight against something is to first adapt to it, accept that it is the case and then create ways to stop it from being the case. This is a step towards a rape-free culture in South Africa. Disincentivize the activity. Throwing rapists in jail is also adapting to rape.
This kind of ressentiment based morality seems completely wrong-headed to me. I shouldn’t have to lock my doors to prevent people from robbing my home. But I’m going to. And I think it would be immoral behaviour to tell me not to because I shouldn’t have to. Actions to prevent bad things are good things.
So I think this moral objection is immoral.
June 28, 2010 at 6:55 pm
I’m not actually a fan of the product, I just hate the supposed “moral objection”.
A pragmatic approach to the problems of rape is a good thing. This specific solution seems flawed for the very reasons listed in that short article.
“There were many practical objections: the device might make the rapist angrier and more dangerous; several men might be involved; it doesn’t actually prevent rape; rapists might check for the device and remove it; the device might encourage anal rape; it could be misused by women to hurt men who are not raping them.”