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Sonnet Ehlers, a doctor in South Africa, has designed, patented, and manufactured an “anti-rape female condom” with the unambiguous brand name Rape-aXe. Women who believe they are at high risk of being raped insert the device into themselves like a tampon, and wear it around indefinitely as a form of protection when anticipating risk. The “teeth” inside cause intense pain and potential injury to a male upon penetration, and basically clamp down, making exit from the device painful. The thing does leave damage. Snip:
Perhaps this is a product that was developed by a woman who clearly has the best of intentions and is reputed to have sold her car and house to finance the product’s development. What the product concept however fails to take into account is the Law of Unintended Consequences. This product may risk escalating such attacks. On the other hand, it could be argued that the product may not solve all forms of rape but may indeed stop some. It’s like saying seat belts don’t solve all injuries in car crashes so let’s not use them.
On the whole though, this seems like a perversely wrong-minded idea that is so wrapped in good intentions it’s hard to criticise the product.
