Vagina dentata: Difference between revisions
(adding images, femina ridens) |
(notes and image) |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
Sometimes appears in fiction as an instance of fantastical biology, or a science-fictional body modification or device. | Sometimes appears in fiction as an instance of fantastical biology, or a science-fictional body modification or device. | ||
As a [[rape]] deterrent, it rather rests on the presumption that men will have access to women's bodies anyhow, and that they will go far enough for a device located in the vagina to make any difference, thereby circumscribing women's inevitable position as victims. The development of a real-life version inspired criticism that they would be useless against rape committed with the help of foreign objects, or expose victims to blood-borne contagions should their attackers' skin break. | As a [[rape]] deterrent, it rather rests on the presumption that men will have access to women's bodies anyhow, and that they will go far enough for a device located in the vagina to make any difference, thereby circumscribing women's inevitable position as victims. | ||
[[Image:SonetteEhlers-RapexFemaleCondom.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Sonette Ehlers with a screenshot and a prototype of the Rapex, a female condom. (Photo: Reuters, taken from Robyn Dixon, "[http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/controversy-in-south-africa-over-device-to-snare-rapists/2005/09/01/1125302683893.html?oneclick=true Controversy in South Africa over device to snare rapists]", Sept. 2, 2005.)]] | |||
The development of a real-life version (the "Rapex", invented by Sonette Ehlers in 2005) inspired criticism that they would be useless against rape committed with the help of foreign objects, or expose victims to blood-borne contagions should their attackers' skin break. Ehlers said she had been inspired to invent it after meeting a woman who had been raped who told her, "If only I had teeth down there."<ref>Dixon, Robyn (September 2 2005). "Controversy in South Africa over device to snare rapists".</ref> | |||
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
| Line 22: | Line 26: | ||
== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagina_dentata Wikipedia entry about vagina dentata] | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagina_dentata Wikipedia entry about vagina dentata] | ||
==References== | |||
<div class="references-small" {{#if: {{{colwidth|}}}| style="-moz-column-width:{{{colwidth}}}; column-width:{{{colwidth}}};" | {{#if: {{{1|}}}| style="-moz-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:{{{1}}} }}};" |}}> | |||
<references/></div> | |||
[[Category:Body themes]][[category:Fictional technologies]][[Category:Sexuality themes]] | [[Category:Body themes]][[category:Fictional technologies]][[Category:Sexuality themes]] | ||
Revision as of 14:48, 10 March 2007
Latin for "toothed vagina".
Often crops up as a sexist projection onto women's bodies of men's fear of women's sexuality. Devouring mothers and all that.
Sometimes appears in fiction as an instance of fantastical biology, or a science-fictional body modification or device.
As a rape deterrent, it rather rests on the presumption that men will have access to women's bodies anyhow, and that they will go far enough for a device located in the vagina to make any difference, thereby circumscribing women's inevitable position as victims.
The development of a real-life version (the "Rapex", invented by Sonette Ehlers in 2005) inspired criticism that they would be useless against rape committed with the help of foreign objects, or expose victims to blood-borne contagions should their attackers' skin break. Ehlers said she had been inspired to invent it after meeting a woman who had been raped who told her, "If only I had teeth down there."[1]
Examples
Fantasy
- Tanith Lee's "Weasel Bride"
Science-Fiction
- Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.
Other
- Piero Schivazappa's "Femina Ridens" (transl. "Frightened Woman", 1969); misogynystic millionaire kidnaps and tortures a woman; he creates a vagina dentata doorway.
External Links
References
- ↑ Dixon, Robyn (September 2 2005). "Controversy in South Africa over device to snare rapists".