South African inventor Sonette Ehlers claims to have patented an anti-rape female condom “to help a woman so that she does not get raped.”
I’m all for doing anything within reason to reduce the incidence of female rape – particularly in poor countries where women are most vulnerable. But, perhaps due to innate male obtuseness, I don’t see how this contraption protects women and seals the doom of their attackers in real life.
According to Ms. Ehlers, women are supposed to wear them like tampons….
But, is that 24/7? And, if a woman happens to be carrying one in her purse when she’s attacked, does she scream “wait! Let me insert my penis fly-trap?
I don’t get it….
Click here to read about it and see what you think.
News and Politics
Anonymous says
I note your point about the impracticality of the device. However, something is better than nothing, I suppose. And perhaps others will be motivated to come up with something more practical.
The public transport system in South Africa is not what it is in the US. Perhaps when women know they’ll be out late or walking dangerous routes, they could use it? Your link says it’s not been tested on a live male model yet? Any volunteers to help reduce violence against women :-)
Other examples of South African inventions:
we invented prepaid telephony;
Vodacom here also conceived the concept of “Please call me”. Because we have a lot of poverty and telephone costs are so high, you can simply send a free text message to someone to call you back;
African solutions to African problems;)
Anyone else out there with a better idea?