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Friday, September 2, 2005

The Rape Trap

Filed under: in the news...


The Los Angeles Times brings us a story about South African inventor Sonette Ehlers and her new anti-rape female condom.

So what is this device, for which design Ms Ehlers was inspired after meeting a traumatised rape victim who told her, "If only I had teeth down there", all about? A medieval device built on hatred of men? Or a cheap, easy-to-use invention that could free millions of South African women from fear of rape, in a country with the world's worst sexual assault record?

"Rapex", the condom-like device bristling with internal hooks designed to snare rapists has re-ignited controversy over South Africa's alarming rape rate, even before plans for its production were announced in Western Cape this week.

The device, concealed inside a woman's body, hooks onto a rapist during penetration and must be surgically removed.

Ms Ehlers said the rape trap would be so painful for a rapist that it would disable him immediately, enabling his victim to escape; but would cause no long-term physical damage and could not injure the woman.

"I don't hate men. I love men. I have not got revenge in mind. All I am doing is giving women their power back," Ms Ehlers said. "I don't even hate rapists. But I hate the deed with a passion."

Read more at Los Angeles Times..

email this article to a friend      print this!           comments and peer reviews (4)




replies: 4 comments
Open comments are not moderated, although abusive and vulgar remarks may be deleted. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Medgadget.com. Please consult our disclaimer.

Women Do Invent.. Rape Defence Devices and Hoaxes! Where's the web-site with the order form, Sonette?
September 2005, Sonette Ehlers announces device, again...

June 2005, Sonette Ehlers announces her variation...

2003, FemDefence, an imaginary product - gimmick - read ALL links


Posted by: Terry
on September 8, 2005 02:02 PM GMT

Hey i think that this is a very good device. The thing that sucks is that women have to wear stuff like this to begin with. I mean it should never come to that. I just hope some girl forgets about it and willingly has sex lol. But overall it is a very good device to protect women from crazed people.


Posted by: Joshua Masters
on September 18, 2005 02:44 PM GMT

This device is long overdue, sounds almost too good to be true. I wish that I had been wearing it seven years ago. Where do I order one?


Posted by: Artemis
on December 1, 2005 09:25 AM GMT

This device will allow women to feel alittle bit more secure when traveling home alone or walking alone or anything that puts them in sexual harms way. but what happens if the rapist overcomes the pain and is then forced by anger to do serious damage upon the victim even kill her? and even if the rapist doesnt overcome the pain from the device he will have a spitting image of his victim and later go searching for her... its a 50/50 issue but since we have to sink solow as to put gadgets on the the women to protect them then so be it. i just hope it doesnt go overboard!


Posted by:
on January 12, 2006 10:38 AM GMT