Lionsfan said:
Now I don't mean to sound ignorant, but this one really confused me. If a girl says she wants to have sex with a guy and they have sex how is that rape (assuming she is of legal age and sound mind)? I mean isn't that the very definition of consent? Or do you mean she says she want to and then changes her mine, which is a completely different situation in which case the man would be raping her.
OT: Can't see it helping at parties or with date rapes. People have mentioned it could cause a girl to be "Shaken up" from a blackout so she can defend herself, but this seems unrealistic. In a violent ambush "alley style" rape, I think it would anger the attacker which I cannot imagine would be good. I just can't see it helping in anyway. If anything, it would make rape harder to prosecute I think.
That said, I don't think creating a product to help people defend themselves is victim blaming. I do not believe pepper spray, tasers, or encouraging women not to walk alone in bad parts of cities (honestly neither should men if muggings are common) at night are victim blaming either. Its not a woman's fault if she is alone at night or doesn't happen to have pepper spray or a rape whistle, and implying that she should be forced to do those things is absurd and offensive. That said, I DO think that in a select few cases (but not every case), having some layer of defense( be it a barrier like this underwear, a weapon, a group of friends to have her back, or avoiding areas known for rape (some streets have crazy high rates of violent crime and some colleges have frat houses with "rape rooms" which is awful for obvious reasons)) could help a woman get out of a dangerous situation. This isn't unique to rape. I think keeping small amounts of cash and not openly carrying money could help you avoid a mugging. Likewise when I would help provide food to the homeless during high school in dangerous parts of the city we were not allowed to travel in groups smaller than 4 people. I think the mugger would mug someone still and the rapist would rape someone still because no defense is perfect, but there are ways to reduce the probability that you will be a target and ways to increase the possibility of escape or protection. Note I see reduce, not prevent. The crime is not your fault and it is not your fault you were the target, but discouraging the purchase and production of products that could really help someone in a time of need because they could be seen as victim blaming seems silly and even dangerous.
Still, stopping rapes from being committed should be the long term goal and work should be focused on that, but I do not see the problem with giving tools to potential victims to defend themselves before we reach the end goal of stopping rape all together.
If anyone disagrees with my views I would really like to hear your opinions and your reasons for disagreeing with me so that I can reevaluate any flawed beliefs that I have, though I ask that the conversation remain civil and that you consider my points as well.
