NO PLEASING THIS BUNCH: Date Rape Nail Polish Rejected
What if a woman could protect herself while out with a new guy from being date raped? That’s exactly what students from North Carolina State University are trying to do; protect women from getting date raped. A team of four male undergraduates have created a nail polish that can detect a date rape drug in a woman’s drink. The group, who call themselves “Undercover Colors”, says their goal is to protect woman saying, “Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from the heinous and quietly persuasive crime.”
The woman applies the nail polish to her fingernail and dips it into the drink. If a date rape drug is detected, the nail polish will change colors. Fabulous idea for woman trying to stay safe, right? Not all women think this is a great invention. Although Rape Crisis England & Whales representative Katie Russell thinks the idea makes of good conscience as whole, her group will not endorse the product. She says, “Rape Crisis does not endorse or promote such a product or anything similar. This is for three reasons: it implies that it’s the woman’s fault and assumes responsibility on her behalf, and detracts from the real issues that arise from sexual violence.”
Jessica Valenti sites that the invention focuses too much on what women “do or wear” and it would leave room for “victim-blaming”. Excuse me? How would this fuel “victim-blaming”? As a woman, I am going to do whatever I can to empower myself against date rape. What kind of woman would be against such an innovative, possibly life saving product? Isn’t the modern day feminists’ fist-pumping mantra to be empowered? Does this “modern feminist” have so much rage towards a man that she is willing to risk her own safety and be victimized, just to prove a point?
It’s a slippery slope to assume that a victim of date rape whom didn’t use the nail polish would blame herself for not doing everything possible to avoid it. If a woman wore the nail polish on a date and she stuck her finger into her drink and it tested positive for a date rape drug, there would be two victories for the woman. First, she would have avoided being raped and the perpetrator would have a high likelihood of getting caught and ultimately prosecuted. If the nail polish didn’t exist, maybe the rape would have happened and may have resulted in the rapist getting away without prosecution.
Of course an alternative to the date rape nail polish is the brilliant idea that Colorado University had, which consisted of a woman urinating on herself, vomiting, and telling the rapist that she has a disease. Although some “feminists” may think these tactics are an effective and feasible idea; what woman would be in a clear mind to think about doing any of them? Let’s be frank. Would a little urine or vomit stop a violent rapist? After all, doesn’t the issue of rape have something to do with anger and control over the victim?
The invention of date rape nail polish is brilliant and many women, such as myself, would wear it. If these “feminists in name only” don’t like the idea of nail polish here’s another idea. It’s called concealed carry and there would be no mistaking who is in control then; let alone any “victim-blaming”. Problem solved.
Image: http://ohnailart.tumblr.com/post/24642939915/day-5-blue-nails-so-theres-a-story-behind-this
