Penis Fly Trap

A South African doctor has invented a condom with teeth to help deter and/or punish rapists. Here's the CNN.com article for more details. Apparently, this device is being tested during the World Cup.

Honestly, I don't know where to begin. First, I feel compelled to rail--just briefly--against the fact that we live in such a shitty world that rape remains essentially commonplace. Some days, it's hard to remain optimistic in the face of such... ick.

Okay, so in response someone has invented a toothed female condom. How will we measure the efficacy of such a device? Will the vague threat of a toothy-trap snapping shut on their goodies be enough to deter rapists? Might rapists start preying on others who might be less willing or able to "arm" themselves?

This device further ignores that sexual assaults are not committed only by a penis entering a vagina. There are other acts of rape that do not fit that narrow definition.

And what about the rapist's response to the device when it deploys? Even if the device works as it should, clamping down on the rapist's member upon penetration, might it enrage him enough to further hurt or even kill the woman whose vagina it came from?

Significantly, we must remember that if the device has deployed, then A RAPE HAS STILL OCCURRED. True, it will have been unpleasant for the perpetrator and the duration of the assault may be truncated. But will the woman have incurred any less emotional or physical trauma? A man still penetrated a woman without her consent, regardless of what happens to his penis AFTER.

Finally, must we employ tactics that amount to creating a minefield in our privates? What if a woman is planning to have (gasp!) consensual sex? "Hang on, honey, while I dig out this Bear-Trap Condom. Can you grab a Trojan instead?"

In situations when a woman feels she has no other options to combat would-be (or actual) rapists, then perhaps the toothy condom is the stopgap answer.

But this product's mere existence reminds us that rape remains an epidemic requiring changes in cultural attitudes toward women and rape, and better laws and enforcement regarding sexual assault. Arming our vaginas does not solve the problem.