Nail Polish: Anti-Rape or Anti-Woman? Alice Driver - Al Jazeera
go to original September 1, 2014

Study self-defense. Wear anti-rape underwear. Don't walk alone. Stick to lighted areas. Don't wear a skirt/dress/tank top. Don't drink. We can now add "paint your nails" to the list of recent rape prevention advice given to women. The message, in all cases, is that women are responsible for their own safety. Andrea Grimes, a Senior Political Reporter at RH Reality Check, pointed out the irony of the invention on Twitter: "Rape prevention nail polish sounds like a great idea but I'm not sure how you're going to get men to wear it."

It is being called "rape prevention nail polish" and "anti-rape nail polish", but these sensational names are not accurate. It changes color to indicate the presence of common date rape drugs. But, what does this entail on a practical level? In order for it to work, women have to dip their fingers in their drinks. Before going out, will I stop by the salon and ask for an "anti-rape manicure"?

Will I then go to parties and dip my fingers in my drinks and those of my friends? Aside from the fact that this is not a realistic model of behavior, the assumption here goes beyond the idea that a woman must protect herself. The four male university students who invented the nail polish are selling it as a "preventative measure". This forms part of a larger cultural misinformation campaign that permeates discussions of rape. In fact, the nail polish has little relation to the reality of rape.

Let's get into the facts, which should be a part of comprehensive and required sex education programs. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, approximately 2/3 of rapes are committed by attackers who know their victims. We should stop promoting the idea of the random rape, which plays into the ethos that women should modify their behavior at all times just in case a rapist is around.

Rape is about relationships and power, it is about educating men and women about boundaries, respect, and equality. On a cultural level, both men and women tend to blame women for rape. An analysis of public anti-rape campaigns in various reveals this bias.

Read the rest at Al Jazeera

Undercover Colors: Nail polish detects date rape drugs in your drink (Newsy/Tribyoot)

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