August 31st, 2005 was a big day in South Africa. It was the day that Sonette Ehlers, a blood technician who worked for the South African Blood Transfusion Service, unveiled an innovative solution to the increasingly dangerous issue of rape in her country – Rape-aXe.
Rape-aXe is a hollow tube that is inserted into the female vagina in a manner similar to that of a tampon. The tube is open at the entrance to the vagina, and inside the tube are hooks set to release small barbs into a penis if entered. When an attacker reacts to the pain by pulling out, the device remains on his penis until it can be surgically removed. The entire object is covered with a latex shield (to view an see an explanatory video, go to http://www.antirape.co.za/intro.htm).
Mass production of Rape-aXe was scheduled for 2007. It has been met with resistance in South Africa, and there are currently several petitions for a government ban. This reveals the shocking truth that there are still people left on this Earth who believe that men's sexual health is more important than women's sexual health. If it's between a woman being raped or a man injuring his penis, the former is always preferable.
Ehlers’ intentions for the device are twofold; not only does it give women an opportunity to flee, but unmistakably catches rapists and prevents them from injuring other women in the future.
There is some concern that Rape-aXe would not be effective in the US or Europe if implemented on a widespread basis. This is due to the fact that most American and European rapes are perpetrated by a man the victim either knows or is currently in a relationship with. However, this critique does not take into account its value as a preventative measure, or the added security it may bring to a woman in a potentially dangerous situation.
In college, I knew of a transgender woman who had recently gone through the transition from male to female. I asked her at what point in that process she felt she had crossed the line into full womanhood. She answered, “The first time I was afraid to walk alone at night.”
It’s not surprising to me that most people in the US have never heard of Rape-aXe. It’s also not surprising that when I did a Google search for it, I only found two recent articles. (Shockingly, the article written by a man is largely critical. You can read it at http://jackcentral.com/opinion/2009/11/barb-toothed-condom-out-to-stop-rape/ if you're looking for a good chuckle, but remember to take an antiemetic first. Oh, and you'll recognize it by its condescending title.)
Those who argue that the way to stop rape is through social awareness are the same people doing nothing to work toward that goal; therefore, opposing it simply relieves them of any responsibility to act.
Another thing I noticed is that most of the discussions surrounding Rape-aXe either focus on the attacker or the act of rape itself. The opinions, preferences, and voice of the woman are largely absent. The fact that this device is judged in terms of its disadvantages to men instead of its benefits to women is precisely why rape happens in the first place.
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Shaina Gaul is a feminist and freelance writer living in Iowa. View more of her writing at http://www.couchSpud.net.