A South African doctor has invented a female condom with spikes on it as a deterrent to rapists. CNN.com has posted this article about it. The idea, while a step in the right direction, could horribly backfire. We’re looking at people who commit rape as a crime of power, not a crime of sex or passion. It’s worrisome to think that a woman who has tried to protect herself by using this condom has also unintentionally given her attacker more reason to be angry and probably become more violent toward her.

While this is at least something in support of curbing sexual violence, it clearly misses the point. It puts the responsibility of preventing the attack on the woman and doesn’t address how to stop men from raping. This is perpetuating rape culture and the idea that the woman is to blame for prevention and provocation. The perpetrator will only have to deal with spikes on his penis for a few hours. The survivor will have to deal with the aftermath of the assault for the rest of her life.

Thoughts?