Welcome to Gaia! ::

Taken from: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/06/20/2010-06-20_new_female_condom_with_teethlike_hooks_debuts_at_world_cup.html

Full title: "New anti-rape female condom, Rape-axe, debuts at South Africa's World Cup"

[Nikolita edit: Please click the link to see the actual picture of the condom... teeth and all ninja ]


A South African doctor has developed a new female condom that she hopes will combat rape in the most painful way possible.

Dr. Sonnet Ehlers has invented Rape-axe, a female device with jagged hooks that latch onto a man's p***s during penetration.

The doctor is distributing 30,000 of these condoms in South Africa during this year's World Cup.

"It hurts," Ehlers told CNN. "He cannot pee and walk when it's on. If he tries to remove it, it will clasp even tighter."

South Africa has one of the highest rape rates in the world, according to Human Rights Watch. It is also believed that 16 percent of the population is living with HIV.

Rape-axe is inserted like a tampon and when embedded to a man the device can only be removed by a doctor.

Some have accused Ehler of creating nothing more than a new-age chastity belt.

"It not only presents the victim with a false sense of security, but psychological trauma," said Victoria Kajja, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Uganda.

But Ehlers said that she had taken the proper research and development steps before launching the product.

"I consulted engineers, gynecologists and psychologists to help in the design and make sure it was safe," she said.

Ehlers also pointed out how women take extreme measures such as placing razor blades in their nether regions to prevent rape in South Africa.

"I believe something's got to be done," she said. "This will make some men rethink before they assault a woman."

That's what I thought too. But if it's a question of razor blades in the v****a or that, I think I'd go with the condom. Plus, the pain the guy would be in might be enough to escape.

I think the other idea is that since the men should know they are out there in existence, it should prevent some men from even attempting it, but I doubt it since rape is mostly about power over the victim and not just sexual arousal.

Lol, a banana...
But yes, this sounds quite horrible. I'm not sure if letting the men know about this is good, or not, because it would catch them by suprise if they kept it a 'secret', rather than if they told (Which they did) so now there will be the extra precaution taking place, like the banana...
Hm, although I really like the concept.
I was also thinking about the innocents who'd be affected. Well, I supose the girl must tell him, or he'd be in for a rather nasty suprise. But, you know, wouldn't the girls remember that they have that death condom on, as soon as they begin to think about sex, or are about to begin? I would think that sexual activity would trigger a memory of putting it in, or some such thing.

And another thing, if the doctors have to remove it, which kinda creeps me out...Wouldn't they automatically suspect the person who has them on is a rapist?

South Africa has very, very high rates of rape, so yes that's the point - assuming it's a non-consensual situation, the man will have to go to the hospital to get it removed, thus singling him out as a rapist.

My boyfriend brought up the point that any vindictive woman could use this against her boyfriend/partner and get him framed for rape, but as Lorien said, hopefully things like that wouldn't happen. Or if it was an accident, she'd go with her boyfriend/partner to the hospital and get it cleared up.

Yeah, I would say it's more about catching rapists, hurting rapists, and possibly cutting down on repeat rapes.

Yeah, I heard about it a couple years ago too, so I was confused about why there were calling it new. Maybe it was just a prototype back then or something and now it's actually done? Not sure.