Las Vegas woman invents “date rape” lipstick
(CNN) - In Las Vegas, a woman has created a new cosmetic she hopes will help women in a domestic violence situation, or save them from being victims of a date rape drug.
“Abusers are smart, and a lot of them are career criminals. They literally are in relationships in order to control and violate," said Joy Hoover, creator of the "date rape" lipstick.
Personal experience
On what would have been her 72nd birthday, Friday, October 28, 2022, Marsha Hoover will serve as an inspiration.
“Our personal experience of actually the loss of my husband’s mother. Her final words were in a 911 phone call. She was experiencing violence her entire life," Hoover explained.
As Marsha Hoover's daughter-in-law, Joy launched a protective lipstick called SOS.
She also launched an app for women who can’t get the help they need.
“We really, truly believe if my mother in law had this product her life could have been saved so not only for her but our little girls who are 5 and 9 years old. Just to be able go out and feel safe and confident.”
More about the app
In the app, you can find what looks like a regular cosmetics website.
Additionally, with a press of a button, the safe mode is now live and you can customize instructions from you to a loved one or police that will send help in case of an emergency.
“Joy’s version, of a better future fits into one small compact lipstick. All you do is take one of these small test strips, put a drop of alcohol on it and will tell you if your drink is safe," CNN Correspondent Paulina Bucka reported.
Statistics in the United States
Overall, in the United States, 20 people have become victims of assault by their partner every minute.
That’s according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Moreover, those same statistics also show 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will be victims of beatings, burnings or strangulation by their partner.
Not only that, 1 in 10 women will be raped by their partner.
Statistics that Joy says she can’t stand around and do nothing about.
“What we really want to do is stop this in its tracks. We know not very sexual and domestic violence occurs with drug facilitation, but we know it happens a lot. And so we really want to really see this from all sides of sexual and domestic violence. It’s a nuanced issue.”
