What is the problem to solve and the focus of the solution?
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center estimates that about one out of every five women in the US has been a victim of attempted or completed rape. The organization UN Women estimates that almost one in three women have experienced intimate partner violence, some form of sexual violence, or both at least once. UN Women also describes that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased risk of intimate partner violence, which often includes sexual violence, because women are less capable of leaving their homes. Whether at home, in a bar, on the street, or anywhere in the world, women should not have to fear rape. With this belief in mind, we would like to develop a product to ensure women’s safety.
The original idea for this device was developed by Sonnet Ehlers-Bryant, a medical researcher in South Africa. It is called the Rape Axe, and it is intended to serve as a last line of defense against sexual violence. The device is very new but well researched according to its website–it only lacks funding to be widely distributed and available for use. Inspired by this idea, we would like to find funding to develop, produce, and distribute a very similar device for free so that this technology is available to women at Oregon college campuses (where we are currently located), nearby Planned Parenthood offices and homeless shelters. This similar device can be 3D printed from biocompatible plastic and functions in the same way as the original Rape Axe.
Because this device has a very simple design and Oregon State University has many 3D printers on its campus in addition to nearby companies who provide 3D printing services, it may be possible to manufacture and distribute this device on campus with close supervision. This type of study may serve to reduce campus sexual violence which RAINN estimates to harm 26.4% of female undergraduate students and 9.7% of female post-graduate students.
How does it work?
The device will work when it is inserted into the vagina so that if a perpetrator attempts to penetrate, the device gets stuck on their penis and they are unable to remove the device without professional help. This interferes with the act of rape, discourages future rapes, and makes it easier to identify the rapist. Because the device will be biocompatible, it will be safe for women to insert and regularly clean.
Recommendations for editing this post:
1. Choose a tense for the pages of the project…”will have” is my recommendation.
2. The focus of p1 is women at home. I recommend addressing violence in bars, frats, parks, universities, etc.
3. p1: This note “…we would like to make a product available to you.” makes it sound like you’ll actually be producing the device. Perhaps use “…we want to develop a product to ensure your safety.”
4. p2 “find funding to distribute” or “find funding to develop, produce, and distribute for free”.
5. p2: “is available to a wider audience of women at risk of rape.” Or, “would be available to women at Oregon college campuses, Planned Parenthood offices, and homeless shelters.”
6. Move How does it Work from Nathan’s page to this page.
Thanks so much for your comments! I have edited the page accordingly, and please let me know if there’s anything else I should change.