I think it's a good idea. I get what the naysayers are saying that what we need is for men to stop raping people and stop putting the responsibility on women to protect themselves. I think that's kind of fantasy land. Unfortunately there will always be rapists (and burglars and murderers). Any tools to help women avoid it is a positive thing in my opinion.
This quote really pissed me off Tools like Undercover Colors raise questions about the cost of profiting from rape prevention: Is this really a market we should continue to applaud entrepreneurs’ (notably male ones) tapping into?" she wrote. "Or might these resources be better allocated trying to teach people not to rape?"
So people shouldn't help in any way? That's bullshit.
Post by rupertpenny on Aug 26, 2014 20:54:47 GMT -5
This is dumb. I agree with the second article that it is just another way to place the burden of not being raped on women.
Also, how many sexual assaults involve date rape drugs? I don't really have any idea, but I would bet that it isn't very many. This is like offering someone a band-aid for their gunshot wound.
Yes, of course it would be good. But does it actually help anyone? Or just give people a false sense of security?
I hope that women who are wearing it don't assume that they are safe just because they are wearing some fancy nail polish. But if it alerts them to a potentially dangerous situation, shouldn't we encourage it?
I think it's a good idea. I get what the naysayers are saying that what we need is for men to stop raping people and stop putting the responsibility on women to protect themselves. I think that's kind of fantasy land. Unfortunately there will always be rapists (and burglars and murderers). Any tools to help women avoid it is a positive thing in my opinion.
This quote really pissed me off Tools like Undercover Colors raise questions about the cost of profiting from rape prevention: Is this really a market we should continue to applaud entrepreneurs’ (notably male ones) tapping into?" she wrote. "Or might these resources be better allocated trying to teach people not to rape?"
So people shouldn't help in any way? That's bullshit.
...yeah that's ignorant. People won't rape if they know it's wrong! Oh, wait...
That being said, I think it's a neat idea, but one that probably won't have too far-flung of implications. You would have to suspect you could possibly be date-raped in order to wear and then use this nail polish. I would guess most people who are drugged and then date-raped actually feel safe up until it goes wrong and therefore probably wouldn't wear the nail polish or test their drink. BUT.. if it helps one person? I guess it's a good thing.
Actually, for all that you're being flippant/sarcastic here, there research to support the concept that education about what constitutes rape, how women are, you know, people deserving of respect, etc. has an effect on rape and would be rapists. Personally, I'd rather see money spent on rape prevention. Real rape prevention. Not another "use this loud whistle and try not to be alone at night" "cure" that, yet again, puts the responsibility for remaining unraped ON WOMEN.
That's not "bullshit" or thinking "people shouldn't help in any way." That's thinking that the best help isn't someone's conveniently get rich quick nailpolish.
Yes, of course it would be good. But does it actually help anyone? Or just give people a false sense of security?
I hope that women who are wearing it don't assume that they are safe just because they are wearing some fancy nail polish. But if it alerts them to a potentially dangerous situation, shouldn't we encourage it?
To be perfectly honest, no. I don't think it should be pulled off the shelves or prohibited or anything, if someone wants to wear it they should go for it, but I think actively encouraging women to wear this nailpolish is at best useless and at worst setting the stage for victim blaming. We already have to make sure to wear the right clothes, say the right things so no one gets the wrong idea, travel in groups, walk around with our keys out, carry mace, stay out of the "wrong" neighborhoods, basically handcuff our drinks to our wrists to supervise them, always wear underwear, and never get drunk to make sure we are never in a potentially dangerous situation for which we will inevitably be judged responsible for by some people. I don't think we should tell people to get a manicure too, just in case. I am also not particularly responsive to the "but what if it just helps one person!" for anything really. Maybe we should just tell women not to go out after dark, that would probably save more than one person from unsafe situations.
And in response to bricco's post, I don't think rape prevention is ignorant or silly. I don't think date rapers are all evil psychopaths who know what they are doing is 100% wrong and just don't give a fuck. I think teaching people, boys AND girls, that women are people and not objects to be used for male sexual gratification would be a worthy goal. It wouldn't be easy, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.
This whole thing just really rubs me the wrong way. I also hate wearing nail polish, lol.
I think its a really cool idea and even more so that some undergrads came up with it. Maybe I'm jut geeked because I got a chemistry degree...
I don't think it puts the burden of not getting raped back on the woman. It gives a woman a discreet way of checking a drink to help protect herself. I dig it.
This is dumb. I agree with the second article that it is just another way to place the burden of not being raped on women.
Also, how many sexual assaults involve date rape drugs? I don't really have any idea, but I would bet that it isn't very many. This is like offering someone a band-aid for their gunshot wound.
I found this article about the prevalence of classic date rape drugs
I don't think that this nail polish is going to be taking off anytime soon, but I'm pleased if it helps one person avoid being raped. I do agree it is a band-aid for the gunshot wound though.
...yeah that's ignorant. People won't rape if they know it's wrong! Oh, wait...
That being said, I think it's a neat idea, but one that probably won't have too far-flung of implications. You would have to suspect you could possibly be date-raped in order to wear and then use this nail polish. I would guess most people who are drugged and then date-raped actually feel safe up until it goes wrong and therefore probably wouldn't wear the nail polish or test their drink. BUT.. if it helps one person? I guess it's a good thing.
Actually, for all that you're being flippant/sarcastic here, there research to support the concept that education about what constitutes rape, how women are, you know, people deserving of respect, etc. has an effect on rape and would be rapists. Personally, I'd rather see money spent on rape prevention. Real rape prevention. Not another "use this loud whistle and try not to be alone at night" "cure" that, yet again, puts the responsibility for remaining unraped ON WOMEN.
That's not "bullshit" or thinking "people shouldn't help in any way." That's thinking that the best help isn't someone's conveniently get rich quick nailpolish.
I was trying to find the words and as it often happens, you explained perfectly how I feel.
Also, and this isn't a criticism of anyone in this post, but it really pisses me off that GHB is commonly known as the "date rape drug." No. It's a rape drug. Full stop. It isn't used only by cute frat boys who take you out to a cheap Italian place and slip it into your chianti when you aren't looking. It's used by predatory rapists--which those cute frat boys become if they slip it into your chianti. Anyone who uses it is a predatory rapist. It renders someone incapable of defending herself or giving consent in any form or fashion.
I think it's pretty awesome - but a big part of it is because they're from my alma mater. :-) It provides a way to check your drink - especially in a house party situation. But it does make me wonder how many women are sexually assaulted while under a date rape drug vs those that are drunk or advanced on by force.
I'd feel better about this somehow if the inventors had been 4 women instead. Right now I'm pretty unimpressed for the reasons stated above. Although I suppose there is some positive to having it available for women who wish to use it. Ugh. What a fucked up world.
I'd feel better about this somehow if the inventors had been 4 women instead. Right now I'm pretty unimpressed for the reasons stated above. Although I suppose there is some positive to having it available for women who wish to use it. Ugh. What a fucked up world.
Actually, I hate this entire idea. I'm also bothered by the fact that it's fucking nail polish. So you can still look cute while thwarting a disgusting attack. Can you imagine if say, cops were selling stylish bullet-proof vests to young black males? It's a hasty comparison, but you get the idea.
Actually, I hate this entire idea. I'm also bothered by the fact that it's fucking nail polish. So you can still look cute while thwarting a disgusting attack. Can you imagine if say, cops were selling stylish bullet-proof vests to young black males? It's a hasty comparison, but you get the idea.
Yeah. I just get this feeling of "Make sure you are well groomed so you can play your rightful role as scenery! But don't get too tarted up, someone might get the wrong idea. Definitely go with the blush date-rape nail polish, not the dark red."
Actually, I hate this entire idea. I'm also bothered by the fact that it's fucking nail polish. So you can still look cute while thwarting a disgusting attack. Can you imagine if say, cops were selling stylish bullet-proof vestshoodies to young black males? It's a hasty comparison, but you get the idea.
? Trying to think of something people buy anyway to be cute.
Also, I keep getting hung up on how INCREDIBLY fucked up the headline of the article is. "Nailpolish may prevent date rape." No, assholes. Nailpolish has the chemical capability of detecting the presence of GHB if present in sufficient quantities in liquid.
I'd feel better about this somehow if the inventors had been 4 women instead. Right now I'm pretty unimpressed for the reasons stated above. Although I suppose there is some positive to having it available for women who wish to use it. Ugh. What a fucked up world.
why aren't you falling all over yourself to thank these kind men for a tool to EMPOWER yourself?
Post by flamingeaux on Aug 27, 2014 3:00:06 GMT -5
I'm kind of excited by the possibilities, this opens up for sting operations to catch these guys in the act. No time to get away from the scene and the evidence would still be in tact, if the nail polish is reliable enough. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using proboards
Out of 6 close female friends 2 of them have been dosed by GHB. One was lucky enough to realize what was going on. The other was not so lucky.
I fully recognize that education and other rape-prevention strategies would be the best thing moving forward, and I still think they should be pursued. However, this is still actively happening in our time. I believe that any tool made available to women is helpful. I also think it's ingenious that it's in fingernail polish. Putting on nail polish doesn't mean you are 'tarted' up. It's a subtle way to have it on you all night and to be able to check without pulling out a striptest from a chemistry set.
Yes, of course it would be good. But does it actually help anyone? Or just give people a false sense of security?
I hope that women who are wearing it don't assume that they are safe just because they are wearing some fancy nail polish. But if it alerts them to a potentially dangerous situation, shouldn't we encourage it?
Yes, I can see it being useful for detecting the drug, but also just giving women a heightened awareness that maybe they wouldn't have had if not for applying the polish.
I know people get date rape drugged, but it never enters my mind when I'm out (I don't go out without dh anymore but when I was younger), but it would certainly be in the back of my mind at least, if I had this polish because it would be a reminder to be extra careful when I saw my nails.
No I don't think women aren't being careful and that's why they get raped, but if one woman averts it on account of this stuff, I consider it a success.