In Support of Chastity Belts

Seriously though, hear me out.

The conservative steamroller known as SCOTUS overturned Roe v Wade on June 24, 2022. It was a decisive victory in this (arguably) misogynistic nation's war on women. Almost immediately the health and welfare of women began a dangerous decline based upon the loss of access to a vital healthcare procedure, followed by a ripple effect of creative legislative gambits designed to erode or eradicate the rights of women to personal sovereignty and bodily autonomy.

There have been many stories since that calculated decision of women being denied basic medical treatment for reproductive-health-related concerns.1 It seems to have escalated in the last 6 months. Par for the course under the current administration, it seems individuals (and many groups) feel empowered to act upon their worst instincts, and be on their worst behavior.

From pregnant women in severe distress in the throws of a miscarriage denied entry to emergency rooms, to doctors denying pre-natal care based upon marital status.2 These horror stories, that happen to be true, become more and more prevalent by the week. Bastions of conservative “values” find new and inventive ways to vilify and punish women3 at an alarming rate. Maternal mortality rates in the US are shamefully high, especially for an industrialized nation, and are potentially on the rise. Not surprisingly, there is a correlation between maternal mortality rates and strict regulation of abortion4

It has become increasingly dangerous for women in the US to become pregnant. They cannot count on the support and care of medical practitioners.5 And the circumstances of the pregnancy, intentional or not, consensual or not, do not seem to matter.

This is why I think we should bring back the chastity belt.

NOT, mind you, in the way they were enforced upon women by parents, guardians, and spouses in darker times. No, I think they should be redesigned and made more comfortable6 and that women could “opt-in” to wearing chastity belts for their own safety, security, and peace of mind.

The WEARERS would be solely in control of the unlocking mechanism, and the decision to remove it, thus ensuring THEY are completely in control of every sex act. INSTANT personal sovereignty. INSTANT bodily autonomy. Women in COMPLETE control of their own sexual encounters.

Once upon a time there was an episode of a popular sitcom that dealt with a social phenomenon, dubbed “sponge-worthy”, surrounding a wildly popular contraceptive sponge product. (It was a real thing back in the day, both the product, and the scarcity mindset once it had been discontinued.) Women opting-in to the new paradigm chastity belt could usher in the era of “unlock worthy”, and bring a whole new meaning to the phrase “get into my pants”.

All that’s left is to give it a proper new name. Maybe we call them “Empower Pants” and let women feel the power of reclaiming their own sexuality and safeguarding their own core values.

Final thoughts… There could be one other practical application of such a re-engineered personal security tool. There is an ancient greek play called Lysistrata wherein women go on a sex-strike to compel their partners to end a war. I suspect a similar tactic, employed by women today to rally on behalf of reproductive health rights, the rights of women to access healthcare, and the rights of women to personal sovereignty and bodily autonomy would be at minimum noteworthy, if hopefully efficacious.

Drastic and life-threatening changes have been forced upon us and our health care options in the last few years. I believe drastic actions are called for in order to win back the rights we may have gotten too comfortable with, and taken for granted.

They are no longer granted, they have been unceremoniously stripped away from us, and thus we must fight for them if we wish to see them returned. I suspect we will have to draw a line in the sand and hold our ground. If that means locking it up and throwing away the key? Perhaps that is what we will have to do.