*rape trigger* anti-rape condom

I'm confused...what does it do to the rapist? I never found any information on that. I'm assuming that the semen somehow ends up caught in it or something, so they can use that against the rapist....but does it injure the penis or something?

Yea, it's for real. I've heard about it quite a bit. It's an extremely controversial product.

On one side, you have people saying that it's a way to empower women and have be able to go out in public with less fear of being raped.

On the other side, you have people saying that it's ineffective (because you have to have actually worn it to be protected), and potentially dangerous (enraging the rapist and possibly "causing" him to shoot the victim when he otherwise wouldn't).

I'm not really sure where I personally stand on this device. On one hand, I don't think the onus should be put on women to prevent rape or protect ourselves. On the other hand, I think that it would make many women feel that they are safer, and it does provide pretty effective protection against STDs and pregnancy (not total protection, though, since it hides under the labia, so that would be exposed).

I do think the product should be made available to women who choose to use it.

And yea, it digs into the rapists penis and stays there until it's removed, thereby making the rapist seek medical treatment and get caught.

Aha! I understand how it works now, thanks.

Everything I've heard about it says it's a myth, mainly because keeping something in there that long puts your health at risk. I think it's been posted on this board multiple times now through the years too, so if you want to read more on it if you did a search it might pop up.

Honestly even if by slight chance it were real, it's a stupid idea. The woman would already have been raped, it would just get the rapist angry and put her at risk for further violence.

I really don't think this is a myth...it's been reported by the NY Times and through Reuters. I don't think South Africa is being used as a "test site", so much as it was invented in South Africa and will be available to the people of that country first. I don't think that's fucked up at all.

I don't know, while I don't think women any sort of responsibility to "prevent rape", in a country where one in ten people have HIV, what do you do? At least this provides some protection.

Um i think that that is a really fucked up idea. I mean it is good that they are trying to find a way to stop rape but omg that is like OUCH! Plus what if some women use it just to hurt guys? Like i can see one person in particular that i know using it just to get back at her Ex.....

I dont see how It can cause any potential health risks for the woman, the recommended maximum time it should be kept in for is 24 hrs. Im still unsure of what it does to the man, I think i read that it snags onto there penis & after intercourse & hes gone you remove it & it closes all by itself to keep the "evidence" safe, Am i right ?

No, it's not a real item in the sense that you could go buy and use one. It's an...art? project? (I don't think art is the right word here...) It's to get people talking about rape, the reasons behind it, and how to help protect yourself and/or the women around you.

I heard about this a long time ago, my understanding is that it is a real thing, a real invention, however it was slated to begin production in like 2006. From the lack of current updated info on (the website looks just like it did when I first saw it a long time ago) it I am guessing it hasn’t gone into mass production and is not available, if it ever will be. I remember looking at the FAQs and one says this:

It still talks about how it *will* be available in the future, not now. It was like that back when I first saw it, which was 2005/6.

I remember that part specifically because I thought that it was somewhat ironic that one of the big points that was brought up with the inventor was that she is in South Africa and how rampant rape is there – but the very people most at risk for assault would likely be unable to obtain it because it will probably not be cheep (it will retail probably for “a bit more” than a regular condom), and its only good for 24 hours at a time. So anytime you think you are “at risk” which is potentially daily, you would need a new one.

Yea, one of the articles I read said it would be sold for 50-60 cents each (not sure if that's American dollars or not, but the article was in the US so probably), and they are only good for one use. That would be a huge barrier for those who would want to have something like this.

I thought codoms were like 50-60 cents too. Last time i bought them, they seemed ot be very expensive. I would hope that sexual health clinics would offer them up for free, like they do condoms, as the prices are fairly similar.

This would be a cool concept...but like it has been stated before, I would worry about the safety of the woman using it. It can be very harmful to agitate a rapist, and i can imagine something like this would really piss him off. I could see something like this, doing more harm than good in most cases.

I think that they should make something like what PP were saying. Instead of hurting the man they should conceal evidence. That way, hopefully the guy doesn't find out and then the woman will not be in harm's way. I just dont see how attaching to the guy would be safe for the woman...

I still wouldn't use it. What's to stop him from being forceful, and jamming it up further inside, and hurting the woman even more?

true, but i think (from what i am gathering from this thread) is that it collects evidence from the man, and stores it for identfication purposes.

Now, obviously something that snabs on to a rapists penis, is not a good thing because yes it does put the woman at a higher risk of being hurt or killed.

but as someone else mentioned, it shouldnt be the womans responsibility to protect herself, but anyone who has been raped, and has went to court KNOWS that no one else will help you but you.

And what about STDS, do you think a rapist is going to stop and think, oh wow, i am going to rape this woman, but i should wrap it up? No. they dont. they dont care.

I would be all for this product if it hits market. its giving women back the power they need to protect themselves. it may not stop rapes from happening, but it will catch the rapist and put them behind bars.

thats just my 2 cents tho.

I'm with you, glasses. While it's a neat idea, I don't feel thar I should have to do this becuase there are fucked up people in the world...

I totally hear what you're saying here but I think as women, we have to be aware that we COULD be raped at any given moment on any given day, purely because we have vaginas.

I'm in two minds about this product. On one hand I agree with you. Why the fuck should we have to mess around with intrusive devices like this just to protect ourselves from something that we shouldn't even have to worry about? I see what you mean about the device for men too but the fact is that not all men are rapists but all women ARE potential rape victims. It's fucking sad and disgusting but it's true.

i agree with Kuntish..
I'm on the fence with this one... i would wantnt to wear it all the time, which you would have to if you wanted to be protected all the time, and it looks really uncomforable.

and what Glasses said is a really good idea but i doubt that alot of men would use it.

I also think it should be put on the market though for people who would use it..

Exactly. I think instead of being like, women need to protect themselves from rape we should be teaching men, you don't rape people. I know it won't solve everything or every rape but I just don't think that having to live in constant fear of being raped is an answer. I mean, why does the burden all fall on the woman? Like, I know we should all take precautions to prevent ourselves from any crime, but I also think that instead of having all the burden of preventing rape fall on the woman (which by the way this doesn't even prevent rape... it is just a punishment for a man who rapes a woman) the burden of preventing rape should start with men.

I hate this whole idea, I mean im all for having the evidence to trap these assholes, but why pour a bunch of money into a product which doesnt stop the rape from occuring, could cause more violence, and blames women for being raped. Why not pour that money into research into why men rape woman and what we can do about THAT.
I don't think this product will do any good but instill more fear in women and more empowerment for men to do more harm.

Exactly, Skylar.

Yes I am sure we all take the precautions when we're walking alone at night ( have mase) but yah ... seriously, men should also be educated on rape and why they shouldn't fucking do it. I'm sorry but I won't be wearing this anti-rape condom. I also don't feel as though I should be worried every waking moment of my life ... but I do still take precautions.

It's sad that so many things in society are taken to be a burden upon the woman - like, this product oh wear this and you wont' get raped or whatever. Or, abortion - what about men? Seriously ... Abortion is becoming scarier by the day because of the fact that more states are trying to ban it ... but yet, nothing is brought up about the man. How about start taking precautions, use education as a tool ... not banning etc etc

word.

Thanks Lauren :)