Apparently, anything that helps women protect themselves is offensive.

A group of college students have invented a nail polish that changes color if it comes into contact with date-rape drugs. Many see it as a useful invention because it might help women protect themselves, but, of course, some say anything that might help women protect themselves is actually offensive to women because that promotes rape culture.


“Women are already expected to work hard to prevent themselves from becoming the victims of sexual assault,” an article in ThinkProgress argues. “Now, remembering to put on anti-rape nail polish and discretely slip a finger into each drink might be added to that ever-growing checklist — something that actually reinforces a pervasive rape culture in our society.”

Some opponents were outright angry at the invention.

“I don’t want to f[***]ing test my drink when I’m at the bar,” said Rebecca Nagle, one of the co-directors of an activist group called FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture. “That’s not the world I want to live in.”

The fact that fear of whether or not someone could be wearing the polish might deter potential rapists from drugging women’s drinks was not addressed.



The nail polish is an invention of Undercover Colors, which calls itself the “First Fashion Company Empowering Women to Prevent Sexual Assault.”

— Katherine Timpf is a reporter for National Review Online.