Chew on this today: someone has apparently patented what they call a “security underwear device for sexual organs” (i.e., a chastity belt). Is it as horrible as it sounds? I think so. Is it real? It appears to be. How sure am I of that? Not completely, so I wrote to snopes.com (my go-to-site for Internet scams). Since they did not have anything listed on security underwear devices, I e-mailed them and asked what they thought. If they have anything to say on the topic, I’ll be sure and let you know.
So what do you think? Is this for real?
Thanks to Joan Price for the heads-up on this little outrage.
My guess would be that it is real, simply because there are so many screwy things out there that the odds of this one existing seem high.
That said, I can think of times in my life when one of those would have come in handy!
[…] I’ve written about chastity belts before. But I didn’t see, in person, people’s visceral reaction to […]
These devices were quite popular in catholic France at the turn of the 20th century mainly to prevent adolescent males from commiting the sin of masturbation and possibly going blind. In today’s fanatical religious climate in the US, I find it unsurprising that this type of thing would once again raise it’s ugly head, so to speak.
In my honest opinion, most teenagers *need* to wear chastity belts. Where I live, I’m one of the very few virgins in my high school … and I never plan on having sex or getting married. I don’t believe in throwing my virginity away. Once you toss away your virginity, you can never get it back. I desire and aim to living a pure and clean life.
Candie, I am delighted for you that you have found your way in life.
I hope that over time you learn that the way for you is not the way for everyone. Not all teenagers who have sex have “thrown their virginity away” and sex is not inherently “impure and dirty.”
Disparaging and degrading another human being, which is what a chastity belt does and what your comment words have done, regardless of the choice that other person has made is unkind and unnecessary.
I hope that over time you learn how to encompass all of humanity in loving kindness while maintaining your commitment to your choices and your path.
Hmm, I wonder if this this discussion is an intentional parody?
If no, try searching on Google for “chastity belt” and you will find there are modern chastity belts, mostly used in a BDSM context.
I do, however, believe that using them on teenagers would be abuse. Domination games between consenting adults are OK, and that’s where those things are usually found.
Hi Jann, Yes, I know that chastity belts are most often used in a BDSM context in modern society.
However, the chastity belt in this post did not appear to be one for use in such a context (given the comments, etc.). Nor do most of the comments and e-mails about my two posts on chastity belts (the other one is here: http://karenrayne.com/2008/01/15/venetian-chastity-belts/) appear to be talking about use in BDSM contexts.
Instead, the majority of those contacting me about chastity belts appear to use them as a way to reinforce a religious belief of abstinence outside of marriage. These individuals appear to have found that they are not able to adhere to their religious beliefs without the use of a chastity belt. I may, of course, be being totally scammed by those involved in BDSM communities who want their comments up here – which is part of why I don’t approve them. (I do generally e-mail them in response to their comments.) While I think that chastity belts, when used safely among consenting adults, is fine, I maintain this blog as primarily for parental education. In-depth conversation about how to use chastity belts for BDSM or religious purposes does not fall into that category.
Dear Karen,I agree with you that the pictured belt was not used for BDSM,but was made by an amateur,probably for his wife or daughter.
I am also one of those people whose religious beliefs permit me to put a chastity belt on my wife,who accepts it as her due.We are very happily married.
I’m glad it works for you, Warren. Although I question whether there are really no BDSM tendencies in a marriage where one of the partners “accepts [a chastity belt] as her due.”
Candie says: “In my honest opinion, most teenagers *need* to wear chastity belts. Where I live, I’m one of the very few virgins in my high school … and I never plan on having sex or getting married. I don’t believe in throwing my virginity away. Once you toss away your virginity, you can never get it back. I desire and aim to living a pure and clean life.” Well, Candie, virginity is a state of mind. IT’S NOT REAL! Im not sure what your religiuos preference is, but, “virgin” is the word that people made up it mideval times to make people think they’re “pure”. To keep women in check because in those tijmes, men had the controlling power. Sex is a natural, healthy thing that EVERYONE should experience. We’ve been doing this act since our existence. Saying that everyone at your school “needs” a chasity belt is like saying everyone needs to wear make-up or dye their hair. It’s an opinion that is better kept to yourself.
-Kira
lol its not real.
Personally I would consider the choice whether or not to wear a chastity belt an entirely personal and not disputable one. Absolutely not a choice to be made by another individual.
If a woman feels the need or desire to wear one then I would bear no grudge against her despite the fact that I personally think the idea is absurd and unnecessary. In the same way I would consider it extremely rude for another individual, who believes it necessary to wear one of these devises, to try to force their personal opinion onto me by suggesting that by not agreeing to their beliefs of ‘virginity’ I am being impure and dirty and not “living a clean life”.
I think that, whatever your personal opinion is, what is most important is that you are living the life that you think appropriate rather than trying to force others to do and believe the same as you.
Just my opinion. 🙂