Courtesy of Slate:
AR Wear is for you, the woman who’s “ever been out walking alone, wishing you could feel safer.” But it’s also for that other “you—parents and friends,” who have spent nights “worried about a loved one” walking alone. AR wear will give you, “women and girls, additional power to control” your bodies “when things go wrong.” But they’ll also give you, parents and friends, a pointed, yet elegant, holiday gift for the women in your lives whose bodies need safety locks.
“Rape is about as wrong as it gets,” the two New York women behind AR Wear note in their Indiegogo campaign, which has raised a little over half of its $50,000 goal for finalizing production-ready prototypes of the design. “The only one responsible for a rape is the rapist and AR Wear will not solve the fundamental problem that rape exists in our world. Only by raising awareness and education, as well as bringing rapists to justice, can we all hope to eventually accomplish the goal of eliminating rape as a threat to both women and men. Meanwhile, as long as sexual predators continue to populate our world, AR Wear would like to provide products to women and girls that will offer better protection against some attempted rapes while the work of changing society's rape culture moves forward.”
I am sorry but this is a bad idea no matter how you look at it.
Rape is NOT about sex, it is about power, and if a rapist finds himself stymied by uncooperative clothing it does not mean that the woman is suddenly safe. In fact in my experience that only increases the chances of the attack becoming more aggressive and more dangerous for the victim.
Look I trained women in rape prevention techniques and self defense, and I think I speak from a place of experience and knowledge.
The best prevention is to instruct young women in how to avoid putting themselves in a vulnerable position, but the second is to treat rape seriously, and to prosecute rapists, and put them in jail for as long as the law will allow.
Having said that I think it is disgusting that women have to feel such fear for their personal safety and consider taking such drastic precautions.
How about all of us, especially those of us raising boys, simply make it our job to teach our kids that it is simply not okay to rape? I mean how fucking hard is that really?
Right, so let the power-mad lunatic beat you instead. Your jewels will be safe, but maybe not your teeth.
ReplyDeleteI think you could take your argument against this garment to other areas: fighting back could make them more violent. Trying to talk them out of it could make them more violent. Insulting them could make them more violent. Let's face it: they're attempting rape. They're already violent.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's a damn shame that this garment exists at all, but while it may create the problem you envision, it could also create a barrier that takes time to figure out: time a woman could use to thwart the attack or time enough for help to arrive. It might cause enough surprise and confusion that an unarmed attacker might break off the attack altogether.
It's not a replacement for awareness and being smart about your surroundings, but it could be one more tool in your "anti-rape" toolkit.
But this product is not being offered along with self defense course, focused on prevention and awareness. It is being marketed as a cute alternative to personal responsiblility. And THAT is how it would be utilized.
DeleteYes fighting back can sometimes lead to more aggression from the attacker and more injury, but I have spoken to a number of women that it saved.
I doubt there will be any such testimonials in support of this product.
It is a placebo, not a cure.
Well, you must have watched a different video. The one I saw didn't market it as a "cute alternative to personal responsibility." Several times, the designers made the point that the garment would augment a woman's safety, not make the woman safe in and of itself.
DeleteFrankly, being aware of your surroundings can only go so far if you are compromised either with too much drink or drugged. Yes, the wise girl won't drink too much or be let a guy fetch drinks for her, but just like unplanned pregnancy, it happens. You let down your guard and trust the wrong person. This could be a game changer for a girl who went to a party or on a first date and trusted the asshole.
I would think after being thwarted by the clothes, the rapist would beat the hell out of the victim then go for the unprotected parts.
DeleteDo they have a line of stylish mouth mittens or jaw locks made of the same kryptonite material?
Sorry, I'm not buying any of it. IT's no different than blaming a woman for the actions of the rapist based on what she's wearing.
Not to make light of a serious situation, but doesn't it also make much harder for the wearer to go to the bathroom? What if she cannot remember the code for the waist and leg locks? It's like a return to the "chastity belt" of the early Middle Ages. Not a product I'm likely to invest in.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that the inventors, Ruth and Yuval, did not think through their idea far enough as to the possible consequences a rape victim might face from a frustrated rapist. Surprised that it was actually women who came up with this stupid scheme.
ReplyDeleteEvil Genius... is this the modern day chastity belt? Will protective fathers now make sure their wives and daughters wear this before leaving the house? Will the father get to lock the thing with a little additional adjustment so it cannot be opened unless he decides to do so? Will suppressed women clamor to wear this under their chadors/burqas in order to be allowed to drive?
ReplyDeleteInquiring minds, ovaries and uteri are dying to know!
Praise be to the Paternalistic Gods of Men of all dominations... err.. denominations.NOT!
Once again, infuriatingly, submissive woman are nothing but handmaids.
Now, permit me to take this from the ridiculous to the sublime!
Contemplate this commercial:
Handsome young men demonstrating their own Marble Bag version of this to prove that they won't/can't rape their date... Would that drive home the idiocy of the above message? SNORT!
A modern day version of the 'chastity belt' that only the wearer has control over. If it wasn't so sad it would be hilarious.
ReplyDeleteHA! you took the words right out of my mouth! This is ridiculous.
DeleteWhat's next..a little gun inside the thing, so if a man touches your privates, he's shot? Not that that's a bad idea, but I'm betting no woman would get off with "SYG" were that to happen. Look at the FL woman who was jailed for merely firing a warning shot at her ex, who was trying to break into her home. Z kills and walks, a black woman doesn't kill and gets 20 years (although I think she is now free.) Women are really not allowed to fight back, say no, or anything else. We are just supposed to lie back and 'enjoy' being raped, demeaned, or otherwise abused by the male 'protectors.' Yes, we have evolved so very far from 200 years ago, haven't we?
ReplyDeleteThe uses to which this little item can be put are not pleasant to contemplate. The above commentators have explained it pretty well.
ReplyDeleteJust think, if Bristol Palin had worn one of these the world would have been free from the entire family. No rape, by Levi in a tent. No Tripp, with his foul mouth on TV. No "gift from God" for $carah parading Trig. Seriously, why not just invest in a tradmill? Women should not go running alone in places like Cental Park. Setting up buddy stations for runners, much like the zones where people meet to share rides into large cities would make more sense.
ReplyDeleteA running buddy system sounds great. Unless it's chock full of predators.
DeleteWow....this is really weird. I tend to agree with Gryphen on this one, nothing replaces being aware and avoiding possible danger when you can. There are many classes available to women to learn how to protect yourself....granted depending on your attacker, fighting back could be bad...or could save your life. Rape is all about power......how do you prepare against that? Magic underwear isn't going to replace common sense.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Gryph as well.
DeleteGryphen, Knowing that you support evidence-based argument, you might want to look at this and consider revising your anecdotal critique above - anecdote =/= data:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/jhamlin/3925/4925HomeComputer/Rape%20myths/10-Year%20Update.pdf
Wonkette reports that Levi has reopened the custody suit.
ReplyDeleteWhat an 'old white man' can do.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/397562392382799873/photo/1
Sorry, but I equate this as a better lock for your property, such as a bike. Disgusting.
ReplyDeleteBTW I take women from shelters and teach them how to fight and defend themselves from abusive husbands and boyfriends that will not back down. I teach them to fight dirty on top of classic self defense, if it's you or him in close contact you use natures weapons, like your teeth.
Your teeth can rip off a nose, an ear, a portion of a penis, your fingers can gouge out or pop out an eye whatever you need to get away and temporarily disable your attacker. You might think that is gross and not "ladylike" but if it comes down to you dying or not it doesn't sound too bad. I also encourage them to carry a pistol( which I have donated to many, given them the appropriate training) or a taser(illegal in many states, but a great form of protection) I actually trained one, just one, woman to use a knife, that takes much more skill.
BTW 6 of the women I have trained have successfully fought off their attackers.
As for our rape culture, and yes it is our culture. It happens because men see women as property, as not equal, as less than them and boys raised to think that are much more likely to become a rapist.
But the gun can be used against them, and likely would.
DeleteI'm all about the teeth, women tend not to fight dirty, we are typically afraid to hurt people - even if they are hurting us. Go figure.
Actually to use a weapon pistol there is distance, at least a little, between you. Practicing will teach you not to hesitate, you have to be trained to think "me or them" and risk injury to save your life. One of the ladies daughters I taught (not counted in my 6)was grabbed by two men. They were armed with a pistol, she fought and got away because her Mom told her if she is ever taken into a vehicle she will be dead. She was shot, a glancing shot to her arm, but she ran and got away. You have to train yourself to hurt, if needed, you have to train yourself to fight for a few moments to get away. She also screamed loudly the whole time in a deserted area, by the time the shot went off someone did get the license plate. The 2 young men did admit to wanting to find a woman to rape and kill.
Delete"How about all of us, especially those of us raising boys, simply make it our job to teach our kids that it is simply not okay to rape? I mean how fucking hard is that really?"
ReplyDeleteApparently it is VERY hard, Gryphen. MAYBE if we can get rid of the religious ideas that women are property (like they still teach in a roundabout way here in the south), we can make some progress.
I DO feel, however, that we also need to IMMEDIATELY get rid of ignorant judges who give out 30 day sentences and then make sure that a violent crime like this is treated violently - with LOTS of years in prison.
Rape is about POWER, as those of us here at IM recognize. If we show a rapist what power TRULY is, that might help, as well.
What about the full-figured (FAT) woman?
ReplyDeletethis is why I carry a knife with me everywhere I go.
ReplyDeleteI have a 3rd degree black belt. I am a professional ass kicker, but I still carry a knife every since someone tried to mug me. I flipped the bastard over my hip and I stepped on his throat until I could see the fear and tears come out of his eyes.
but even with all the years of experience I have, I don't leave the house without my tactical knife.
I do too, on my runs, but I'm not a black belt. How easy can it be to have the knife used against you?
DeleteI carry a knife in my boots all the time. I am usually in boots or moccasins that cover my shin, I made the Mocs and they have a built in sheath for my knife.
DeleteI agree, this is a bad and sad an idea as elementary school marketed bullet-proof backpacks.
ReplyDeleteBesides, the vagina is not the only thing that can get assaulted. Let's work on changing the #rapeculture instead of asking girls not to be so perceived-slutty-putting-themselves-in-rape's-way-asking-for-it.
Girls, YOUNG girls, have to be taught avoidance techniques because realistically a 5,6,7 year girl can't fight off an attacker. Also, all children need role play on how to detect and avoid pedophiles.
ReplyDeleteGirls, yup, young girls, also need to be told over and over and over and over again that it's never ok to be hit, they must get away from the situation regardless of their feelings. Physical abuse is something they will likely encounter (far earlier than we'd like to think).
A 10 year girl has to understand what rape is, why she has tell someone if it happens and what can happen to her body (not only pregnancy but also disease). Far more girls are raped than we know, because when victims are ashamed, in denial or terrified, they don't tell.
Rape prevention is important, of course. But girls have to good set of tools to help them handle it when it happens (statistically a likely possibility).
trying to stop all rape is like trying to stop all lying, it's never gonna happen. That said, the solution to making it occur less frequently is as elusive as the Loch Ness monster. I suggest that scientists create a chemical that is injected to the female, and any unauthorized penis that enter any orifice will be poisoned, and death will occur within minutes, or is that too crazy? (sarcasm included free of charge)
ReplyDeleteTap
Well, Gryphen, this one will turn your stomach. What happens when Daddy is farming you out for rape and abuse??? And you're 11 years old!!
ReplyDeleteMissouri father arrested at Cracker Barrel over Craigslist ad seeking rape of daughter
A Missouri father was arrested last week after he showed up at a Cracker Barrel to meet an undercover officer who he had contacted on Craigslist about beating and raping his 11-year-old daughter.
At a press conference on Monday, St. Louis County Detective Mike Slaughter said that it took a lot to shock detectives who investigate Internet predators, but they just couldn’t believe it when 32-year-old Anthony Brinkman came to the restaurant with the young girl that he expected them to assault.
“It’s just a lot of talk for most of these guys, but this guy actually brought (the girl) to the scene to go ahead with the next step of enacting it,” Slaughter explained. “If we hadn’t gotten involved and someone bad had gotten in touch with him, something bad would have happened to that little girl.”
Slaughter said that the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was called into action after someone reported a Craigslist ad Brinkman posted last week. He told an undercover officer posing as 27-year-old woman that he was looking for a girlfriend and someone who would help him assault the girl with sex toys, according to Slaughter.
If the undercover officer liked what he saw at the Cracker Barrel then the plan was for them all go back to Brinkman’s place and begin sexually assaulting his daughter.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/05/missouri-father-arrested-at-cracker-barrel-over-craiglists-ad-seeking-rape-of-daughter/
@Lisa
ReplyDeleteYou don't think a rapist is capable of pulling these pants down? Or cutting them off? It's not cute, nor are they any defense of any kind.
Sorry, this will only lead to more violence against women and possibly more murders. Knowledge is power, not feminine versions of reinforced underoos. What's even more sickening, is that the inventors bought into the "blaming the victim" meme.
ReplyDeleteWe DO need to teach our sons the "R" word. RESPECT for ALL women, from a very early age. My two daughters and my son took self defense/ tae quan do classes and it's the best investment we ever made, I recommend it highly as an alternative to Girl and Boy Scouts, and not just for the self defense reasons, there's a lot more to it of value for both sexes.