Rape victims "bite" back.

[Shockeye]

Inventor of rape device prepares for launch

    August 30 2005 at 05:18PM 
 
By Jenni Evans

A controversial device, which its inventor claims clamps itself to a rapist's penis forcing him to seek medical treatment and be revealed to the police, will be launched by a South African woman on Wednesday.

The "Rapex" device is inserted into the vagina by a woman who feels she is at risk of rape, and if she is attacked, small burr-like teeth will attach themselves to the tip of the rapist's erect penis, explained inventor Sonette Ehlers.

As he withdraws and becomes flaccid, it is only possible to remove the device by surgery, Ehlers said ahead of a launch and demonstration at Kleinmond near Cape Town.

The surgeons would in turn alert the police on the same principle that bullet wounds need to be reported by doctors, and the rapist would be apprehended.

"It will make the men think twice," she told Sapa of the invention that grew from "filing away" passing comments over the years.

A client she was consulting when she was a blood cross-matcher for a transfusion service, remarked one day "if only I had teeth down there", she related.

And while on call in hospitals and privy to corridor talk, she overheard a surgeon joking about a man who had caught his penis in his trouser zip.

"I filed the teeth and the zip away (comments) in my mind and played around with it," she said.

After conducting research on rape, she eventually selected an engineer and a developer. Only identified as "Bert" and "Piet", they came up with the polyurethane device.

The product was tested on models of penises and vaginas and then given to women to test for comfort.

"A serial rapist just goes deeper into the ground, but now he cannot do that," she said.

The device is not yet in production but Ehlers hopes it will eventually be sold alongside condoms in chemists.

Monique Lanz, spokesperson for Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital, said: "We would have no idea what it was (if a person sought removal) and a person could spin us a story. There would have to be in-service training. And obviously the patient also has rights."

Lanz noted that it was also up to the woman seeking treatment at their rape crisis centre whether the rape was reported.

People Opposing Women Abuse spokesperson Carrie Shelver said the organisation did not support such devices but understood that they were developed in response to frustration people experienced.

She noted that many rapes were committed by people known to the victim and whether or not they could apply the device in those circumstances was "highly unlikely" because of the power imbalance in the relationship.

Shelver believed that more focus was needed on making the criminal justice system the effective barrier, which included better forensic evidence collection and prosecution. Use of the device could also leave the victim open to further interrogation during cross-examination in court.

"But most of these inventions don't come about in a vacuum - they come about by (people) who feel the system has failed them," she said.

Regarding a rapist's rights, Lawyers for Human Rights gender co-ordinator Tizeta Wodajo cautioned that if the matter involved a false accusation of rape, it could cause further damage to the man's name.

"But if there was no consent, in common law, the victim may use the same amount of force as the attacker, based on a reasonableness test."

Lisa Vetten from the Centre for Violence and Reconciliation said that "once again the responsibility for preventing rape was put on women" and that the device normalised rape.

Asked whether it was better than nothing, she said: "Why don't we all strap little shock devices onto men - wouldn't that help? But could you imagine the outcry?" - Sapa

[Sky]

Yeah, I'm sure that won't be used by pissed off wives and girlfriends for revenge or anything.

[WayAbvPar]

Someone has been reading too much Neal Stephenson.

[Signe]

I've always wanted a vagina with teeth.

[Miasma]

I'm certain that in a few weeks there will be a useless news update about a woman who forgot to remove this and snagged her husband.

[WayAbvPar]

I've always wanted a vagina with teeth.

Talk to Ann Coulter.

[shiznitz]

Another reason to go anal.

[Yegolev]

Look before you leap.

[Signe]

I've always wanted a vagina with teeth.

Talk to Ann Coulter.

She was my inspiration.

By the way... if they can manage a sharp fanged pussy, I'm sure they'll have no problem inventing a gnashy gnashy asshole.  You're just not safe anywhere, anymore.

[Shockeye]

I've always wanted a vagina with teeth.

Talk to Ann Coulter.

She was my inspiration.

By the way... if they can manage a sharp fanged pussy, I'm sure they'll have no problem inventing a gnashy gnashy asshole.  You're just not safe anywhere, anymore.

To the ears!

[Bunk]

Someone has been reading too much Neal Stephenson.

You beat me to it.

[schild]

More women will be hurt by this then men, I reckon.

[Signe]

More women will be hurt by this then men, I reckon.

You're probably right.  I was just kidding before... I really don't want anything sharp or gnashy anywhere near my moistables.

[tazelbain]

EDIR: Wrong thread.

[Alkiera]

Someone has been reading too much Neal Stephenson.

You beat me to it.

That came to mind, but Julian May came first.  Race of aliens actually DID have teeth down there.  Yow.

Alkiera

[jinxer]

Wow, that reminds me of Wicked City.  Anyone seen that?  The anime video with the crazy cool spider lady with the teethy crotch and the heroine with the blood red nails that shot out into long rapiers in a splitsecond??   

Awesome movie, really.  Or at least it was when I watched it like 10 years ago.   Hmmm....maybe I should watch it again.

[voodoolily]

While I completely condone the vicious attack of a rapist's penis, has anyone thought about how unsafe it would be to get your rapist's blood inside your vagina? Even if I knew the fucker was gonna get caught, I'd be so afraid of having contracted HIV that I wouldn't feel much better.

[jinxer]

Good god, that's a very valid point.  I wonder if the makers of this fine penis puncturing device has thought about that one. 

[Signe]

Heh... except for the bloke who invented it and whatever strange South Africans want to produce it... I think nearly everyone will concur that this is a totally dumbass idea.

[Yegolev]

While I completely condone the vicious attack of a rapist's penis, has anyone thought about how unsafe it would be to get your rapist's blood inside your vagina? Even if I knew the fucker was gonna get caught, I'd be so afraid of having contracted HIV that I wouldn't feel much better.

Seems to me the spooge would have the same effect, but I'm not up on that sort of thing.  In either case, assuming I had a place to put the VagiTooth(tm), I don't think I'd like it.  A gun seems safer.

[voodoolily]

A rapist might not ejaculate, so there's a chance you;d be safe. But yes, a gun is much better. Or a healthy self esteem, for that matter.

[Merusk]

A rapist might not ejaculate, so there's a chance you;d be safe. But yes, a gun is much better. Or a healthy self esteem, for that matter.

You did read that this is being marketed for African women, right?  A healthy self esteem doesn't much matter against gang rapes.  As to the HIV argument.. well chances are they've both got AIDS or HIV anyway, given the epidemic that it is over there.  It's up to what, 7/10 people infected now?

[Yegolev]

As to the HIV argument.. well chances are they've both got AIDS or HIV anyway, given the epidemic that it is over there.  It's up to what, 7/10 people infected now?

This is what I thought, but for once I didn't post due to lack of factual knowledge.  Still looks like Glock > VagiTooth for this situation.

[voodoolily]

Yeah, I missed the Africa part. Oh, well.

Edit: although, South Africa has a fairly high white population, FWIW.

[Yegolev]

Yeah, I missed the Africa part. Oh, well.

Edit: although, South Africa has a fairly high white population, FWIW.

But they are Dutch.

[Signe]

They USED to be Dutch.  Now they are South African diamond merchants, oil tycoons and slavers employers.

[Yegolev]

[Merusk]

Quick note: I googled stats and I'm like WAYYY off on my AIDS guesstimate.  It's topping 20-25% in the 'most infected' nations in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

[Strazos]

What? I've read 60% in certain areas.

And don't be hating on the Dutch; They nice people. Dutch South Africans are something else entirely.

[Roac]

What? I've read 60% in certain areas.

Swaziland has the highest percent of HIV infection of any country, at around 35-40%.  Botswana is close.  Most of southern Africa seems to be between 5 and 15%.  For comparison, the US is at about 0.6%.  Most of Europe is less than that.

[Yegolev]

There are only two kinds of people I dislike.  Those who are intolerant of other cultures, and the Dutch.

[shiznitz]

There are only two kinds of people I dislike.  Those who are intolerant of other cultures, and the Dutch.

If someone is both do they cancel out?

[Shockeye]

South African inventor Sonette Ehlers demonstrates her new anti-rape female condom in Cape Town, South Africa, Aug. 31.

[WayAbvPar]

Great. After seeing that, my penis is hiding behind my leg and won't come out.

[stray]

Den this thread before someone posts a pic of Buffalo Bill.