For those unfamiliar with the Rapex, it is an “anti-rape condom”. Basically, it’s a condom worn inside of you with barbs that, should any man put his hoo ha where it is not welcome, it will be stuck with barbs removable only by a doctor.

Naturally, this raises a few questions, many of which can be answered by the website’s extremely helpful FAQ section.

The first question, of course: “When should I wear the Rapex?”

According to the website I should wear it when I: “travel long distances alone, on a train, working late, going out on a date with someone you don’t know too well, going to clubs, or in any situation that you might not feel comfortable or even just not sure.” So I guess I should just be practicing constant vigilance? At no point in my day should I forget that I– as the owner of a vagina–am always susceptible to rape, and this device will always allow me to have it in the back of my mind!

Secondly, how does this change my relationship with, ya know, the other half of the human race? Well, I know I don’t have to worry about my boyfriend being hooked, “unless you are in a violent relationship and you do get raped by your husband or partner. The choice is then yours whether to wear it or not. ” Whew! Thank you Rapex, for giving me that option!

So I guess I’m pretty much covered Rapex, thanks to your innovative thinking, and also thanks to answers based on questions like these: “What happens if my child finds it in the waste paper basket and sticks his finger into it?”, “Can this be worn during masturbation?”, and “What if I am asleep and someone enters my house and tries to rape me?”

I mean, they pretty much all have the same gist: wear our product 24-7 not out of fear but out of responsibility and a safeguard against the inherent viciousness of all men.

The only questions that really occurred to me that weren’t addressed on your site I’ll just post here and possibly you could get back to me on them?

Just how many light years does this set us back as far as the whole feminist movement thingey majig? I mean, I totally understand why we should revert to the dark ages and all women should live in constant fear of all men, and we’re all potential rape victims…but exactly, how many years (approx) are we exactly going back?

Another thing I came to ponder, was what inspired this brilliant stroke of genius? I know you don’t hate men (“just rape!”–a novel opinion, let me just say), but it seems sort of insulting to blanket-assume pretty much every Tom, Dick and Harry we pass by on the street is probably going to drag us into an alleyway and have their way with us (obviously to be prevented by your device, though.) I guess it’s no more insulting though, than helping us girls adapt to rape.

Yesterday, as I read One D At a Time, I couldn’t help but agree with the blogger’s thoughts on feminist vs feminist hateration. And her discussion of Camille Paglia’s theories on Date Rape as a new method of fear mongering couldn’t apply to anything more than they do to this. Look, I understand that rape is a real threat to all of us. But by insisting that we must assume responsibility “Simply because your body is sacred and it is your legal and moral right to be safe. Nobody can make you safe except you. You do not have to secure your home, equally you do not have to secure your body, however it is better if you do so,” you reiterate society’s subconscious implications that, in the end, it’s our fault we get raped.

Thoughts on these ideas, ladies? On Rapex itself?