New-age Chastity Belt

What is the one thing that all women fear? Rape. One definition of rape states rape is "a form of assault where one individual forces another to have sexual intercourse against that person's will. It may be defined as forcing a person to submit to any sex act, and is generally considered one of the most serious sex crimes, as well as sometimes very difficult to prosecute." It makes someone who has a vagina wish there was a way to stop a potential rape right in its tracks.

Today, I was talking to my friend John Christie on the phone, when he informed me of something I'd never heard of; the anti-rape tampon. First off let me just say, wow! I had to Google this new piece of information immediately! Now, let me tell you what exactly this product is. The anti-rape tampon was first made in 2000, in South Africa for the purpose of preventing rape. The design of the "tampon" is a hard plastic cylinder, made to be easily inserted into the vagina, with a tension spring blade within the cylinder. In the case of a rape, when the penis is inserted, the tension spring would be activated, in turn the blade inside would stab into the penis; what makes this even worse for the rapist is, the blade cannot be removed without medical attention, and would require a portion of the penis to be removed. Big ouch, huh?! When I read about this, I was having phantom pains! That would bring a new definition of hurt into someone's world. Not to mention castration anxiety.

More recently though in 2006, Sonette Ehlers, invented the "RapeX", renamed later "Rape-aXe". This product of protection has a more grim outlook in mind for a potential rapist, however this time in the form of a diaphragm/condom. The Rape-aXe, like the tampon, is designed to be inserted into the vagina; it uses an applicator like a tampon, and is removed in the same fashion. In the event of a rape, the assaulter would insert his penis, but realize something was heinously wrong when he tried taking his penis out. The "condom" is lined with inward-facing barbs, and like the tampon, designed to stay attached the penis until he sought medical attention. I think the only analogy I could use to describe this would be, a fish on a hook.

What I love about this is:

1. First and foremost, no bodily fluids would be swapped; so protection against sexual transmitted diseases and pregnancy.

2. It leaves physical evidence that an assault took place, which in many cases there is lack of. The case is then left as "he said, she said".

3. This would make a woman feel more secure in the world around her.

4. It teaches nasty men a lesson.

5. Both products would allow the victim time to escape.

I'll now tell the negative words people have said about the Rape-aXe. Words like, barbaric and medieval, have been used to describe Rape-aXe. But isn't rape barbaric and medieval itself? Uh. Yeah! Some have said it would be "brutal on the male". In response, I would just like to say, isn't that the point? If an assault got to the point of rape, any women in her right mind would want it to stop.

Theoretically, if you are raped, you spend years on end suffering post traumatic stress disorder, trust issues, possible health problems because of it, depression; the list goes on. Rape is brutal; so fight fire with fire. After reading all of the articles and comments on the Internet, I almost feel like I'm looking at this from one point of view. I read all the negative effects that could happen, but I looked right through them. It's sad that it's gotten to the point where women have to protect one of the most precious thing they have, because there are sick, disturbed people out there, waiting like a spider in a web for them to make one wrong move. It's sad, but true. It seems like women have to be on guard 24/7. So what's the difference in this scenario? Nothing. If a rapist was struck down by either pieces of hardware, I'm certain that he would remember if for the rest of his life; as a rape victim would remember an attack. Maybe next time he'd think twice before assaulting someone!

In conclusion, I feel women should always feel protected; be it a can of mace, or a barbed condom. It's a dog-eat-dog world, and everyone, not just females, needs to be aware of the harm others can bestow upon them. Always be prepared, even if other's think it's unusual. In the end you need to protect your the most valuable thing you have, your life.