Is it really that bad to tell young women how they can protect themselves? (Undercover Colors, Facebook)

I have heard this question more times than I can count from female friends and fellow students during my time at school. Each time I hear the question, it first disheartens me – sexual assault is not something that young women should have to worry about, but in reality they do worry about it, as maybe they should. After I get over my emotional response, I consider what the “right” response is and how I should answer. On the one hand, I do not want my answer to contribute to rape culture by placing the burden of protection on the victims. But, on the other hand, how else can I answer this question honestly? 

There are a host of “standard” answers to this question, answers that are given by police officers and peers alike that aim to protect potential victims but also unfortunately send the message that victims are responsible for that protection and that if they do not take protective action then they are subsequently responsible if a sexual assault takes place. For example, by telling young women that the way to prevent sexual assault is to never walk alone, to not go to parties by yourself, to pour your own drinks and to never get too drunk, you are insinuating that if women do NOT do these things and are then assaulted that it is at least partially, if not completely, their fault.

This harmful “victim blaming” disguised as helpful advice is more common than you would think. I don’t think that it is right that potential victims have to protect themselves from potential rapists, nor do I believe that the long-term answer to our society’s sexual assault problem lies in telling people to drink less and go home earlier. But, if the psychological implications are removed from “preventative” advice, is it really that bad to tell young women how they can protect themselves?

This question was recently raised after four young men at North Carolina State University created a nail polish called “Undercover Colors” that changes color in the presence of common “date rape” drugs such as Rohypnol ("roofies"), Xanax and GHB. Self-identified feminists (in articles like this one, this one and this one) have been slamming this product saying that it not only opens up more opportunities to blame potential victims for sexual assault (ex, “If she had been wearing the nail polish, maybe this wouldn’t have happened”) but also that it wouldn’t even prevent a substantial number of assaults because the most common date rape drug is actually just plain alcohol, and not Rohypnol or GHB. As far as I am concerned, the argument that the product does not prevent a substantial amount of sexual assaults is irrelevant; if a product were able to consistently prevent even one sexual assault per year, I would be a proponent of that product solely because of the trauma that it could save that one person. As far as the other argument, though, I think it is valid – as long as it is taken with a grain of salt.

READ MORE: Rape Culture - What The Media Is Missing

When we – as women, as students, as peers, as friends, as upperclassmen – are asked how to prevent sexual assault, the first response should be an extremely important caveat: that no matter what you do or don’t do, no matter what you are wearing or where you are walking, how much you have to drink or what time it is, sexual assault is never your fault as a victim. It is essential to get across that there is never a possible circumstance where a victim contributes to an assault. Furthermore, it is essential for all of us to understand that although victims can do certain things to try and protect themselves, those “safety tips” have not stopped sexual assault thus far and will not stop sexual assault in the future because it is not victims who have the ability to stop sexual assault, but perpetrators. I believe that it is education and legislation that will eventually provide the change in our societal consciousness of consent and sexual assault that we so desperately need.

This does not mean, however, that recommendations for increasing personal safety or even self-defense products like drug-activated, color-changing nail polish are necessarily things to avoid.

So how can we give advice to young women on “preventing sexual assault” or promote “self-defense” products without victim-blaming? In the case of “Undercover Colors,” it does not seem that the creators (Ankesh Madan, Stephen Gray, Tasso Von Windheim and Tyler Confrey-Malone) have done much self-promotion at all. In fact, when I did a Google search of “Undercover Colors,” the first thing that came up was a Facebook page, then two articles criticizing “Undercover Colors,” and then their actual website. The website itself includes only the text: “Undercover Colors. Choice matters. The First Fashion Company Empowering Women to Prevent Sexual Assault,” and then a link where you can donate to help fund the mass-production of their product. The Facebook page gives a bit more information, with messages and updates that appear to be from the creators themselves.

Because the product has not yet been mass-produced, it is difficult to assess just how it will be mass-promoted; however, at this point, it does seem that the creators are at least attempting to not only promote their project but also educate the public on sexual assault by providing links to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) and Men Can Stop Rape on at least one occasion thus far. As long as the creators of “Undercover Colors” (and other self-defense products) are promoting their products in conjunction with promotion of sexual assault-related education and the promotion of the strong message that sexual assault is never a victim’s fault, I honestly do not see a big problem with their products. Similarly, as long as any “preventative advice” given is secondary to the message that sexual assault is the fault of the perpetrator and not the victim, it may help more people than it harms.  

Psychologically, it is true that providing young women with self-defense products and “preventative advice” on sexual assault can contribute to rape culture and be potentially harmful. But, I believe that as long as that potential harm is acknowledged and discussed along with the unshakable truth that 100 percent of the blame for sexual assault belongs to the perpetrator and not the victim, the practical benefit of advice and products like these may outweigh their possible harm. 

Get more "Reaction Time," common sense reactions to everyday craziness, every other Monday or read more here. 

Reach columnist Ariana Aboulafia here; follow her here.