The adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" has taken on new meaning.
And with the RapeX anti-rape female condom, that pound is coming out of somebody's johnson.
RapeX is a female condom that damages a rapist's penis after penetration with sharp microscopic barbs that hook into the skin.
After the man is incapacitated, this ostensibly gives the woman time to escape. The condom can only be surgically removed (thereby catching the perp redhanded), but supposedly will not cause major damage if removed immediately.
Invented by Sonette Ehlers, a blood technician at the South African Institute for Medical Research, RapeX has been in existence since August 2005 and is to be inserted and worn when a woman is "on a train, working late, going out on a date with someone you don't know too well, going to clubs, or in any situation that you might not feel comfortable or even just not sure."
Rape plays a significant role in the high prevalence of HIV among women in South Africa.
South Africa is a country hardest hit by AIDS, a lot of which is fueled by an epidemic of rape: In a 2006 study of 1,370 South African men, nearly 20% revealed that they had raped a woman (and these are the ones ADMITTING it!)
By the end of 2005, there were five and a half million people living with HIV in South Africa, and almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day. [Source]
Ehlers, who has been working with rape victims for over 20 years, said that she got the idea from a combination of a young woman raped who said "If only I had teeth down there," and hearing about a young man admitted to a hospital for getting his penis caught in his trouser zipper and the excruciating pain.
RapeX is currently not available commercially, but the Web site says it should be available soon, and would retail for a little more than a regular condom.
For more information, on RapeX, click here.
See what the BV Community has to say about it here.
Comments: (590)
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By: Lisa on 4/12/2007 5:29PM
Damn.
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By: Cecil Jones on 4/12/2007 6:05PM
This is clearly an idea offered by an angry feminist from Oprah's Leadership group. It's a stupid idea because it's a condom. If it goes in, it can be pulled out. Will all the girls be surgically implanted with microscopic razors? It's an idea that somebody will make money from, but not one woman saved. It's kind of like Bush's missile shield. If you need it, you're in deep trouble.
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By: Cassandra on 4/12/2007 6:32PM
From my understanding, the condom does not have to be surgically implanted in the woman, just surgically removed from the penis. I think that this is a great idea, and am highly appauled by rapist. Women all over the world would be saved not only from HIV transmission by rapists, but pregnacy, lifelong trauma, and death. What's the difference in spending money to protect from STDs and pregnancy, and spending to protect your life? Men waste condoms all of the time. They don't always utilize them when they open them.
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By: Courtney Rae on 4/13/2007 8:54AM
I think it's a really good idea. Not only will it prevent the number of STD's and pregnancies it might possible have an effect on the rapist themselves therefor decreasing the number of rapes committed. I think of it like this, if this product successfully gets into the market worldwide I think men would think twice before violated a woman.
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By: Sandra on 4/13/2007 11:10AM
This is a bit scarry. I understand the reasoning behind it and even respect it in a way. What I wonder though is by wearing this condom is a woman always anticipating rape. In other words does this mean women can't go anywhere to have a good time without thinking "I might be attacked tonight". But hey we all have to be realistic and understand the world we live in as sad as it may be.
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By: B. Johnson on 4/13/2007 8:33PM
What about the inconveniene of some female with deep issues that would lure a man into her with the intentions of false claims of rape? There are men in prison right now, falsely accused of rape.
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By: Yvonne on 4/14/2007 8:46PM
We come to this?!! Damn!
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By: B. Johnson on 4/15/2007 9:34PM
What about the male victim who has been lured by some female with the cruel intent of falsely accusing him of rape. As we know, there have been many men sent to prison only to be later discovered as innocent. Not only would this be physically painfully and dangerous, but would also aid those with such motives in proving that some unsuspecting guy is guilty.
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By: tiff on 4/13/2007 9:05AM
That's a great idea. When will it be released in the USA.
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By: Jerri on 4/12/2007 9:10PM
This is scary as hell...sorta gives a whole new spin on the addage..."don't leave home without it"?
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