A Brooklyn, New York, startup is getting a lot of backlash for some very good reasons. The company, MeToo, claims to sell the first DIY rape kit that survivors of sexual violence can use at home to gather evidence of a sexual assault. Marketing such kits is at best misleading and at worst incredibly irresponsible. Actually, at worst, it’s actively preying on the terror many survivors face when it comes to getting a real forensic exam done.
MeToo markets the kits as a way to help survivors have more control in the process. It’s true that getting a rape kit done can be traumatic for survivors for a variety of reasons, ranging from medical personnel who lack bedside manner to police who don’t believe you to your body (and mind) recovering from a violent violation.
Seeking a rape kit can be additionally nerve-wracking for people who are marginalized, such as sex workers, people who are transgender, or people who aren’t native speakers of the local language. What’s tough, though, is that, while it’s understandable that many would prefer to gather evidence in private, there’s no saying that the evidence collected with a DIY kit would ever be admissible in court.
Survivors could be left without the evidence they need to ever build a case. The description of the kit does not make that clear. "The MeToo Kit is designed to address the problem associated with traditional sexual assault kits available to survivors," the company’s website reads. "Most importantly, our kit empowers survivors to accurately collect evidence in a setting and timing of their choice."
Again: It’s totally understandable why a survivor would prefer to have the kit done in the privacy of their own home, or with the help of a loved one instead of a total stranger. However, forensic medical exams—which certainly can be improved upon, especially by providing victim advocates to survivors—generally include a full medical exam, STI and pregnancy prevention options, treatment for injuries, and, yes, evidence collection. They’re also conducted by trained professionals who know what they’re looking for.
“None of these critical procedures are included with the MeToo Kit,” Day One, a sexual violence advocacy group, said in a statement Wednesday. “These MeToo Kits are trying to capitalize on the #MeToo movement, while misguiding victims into thinking these kits are a viable alternative to a forensic exam.”
According to the company website, the MeToo Kits include a container to spit into, packaging to seal the evidence, and swabs for certain body parts.
"This company is shamelessly trying to take financial advantage of the 'Me Too' movement luring victims into thinking that an at-home-do-it-yourself sexual assault kit will stand up in court," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Career prosecutors know that evidence collected in this way would not provide the necessary chain of custody."
What does the startup have to say on that? Not too much. MeToo told New York City NBC affiliate News 4 it "wholeheartedly agrees" that reporting to law enforcement and getting a medical exam are the "best option to helping bring perpetrators to justice." So then, why the kit? "We also recognize that, in the immediate aftermath of such a traumatizing event, some survivors may be hesitant or unwilling to go through this reporting and exam process," MeToo said. "That is the problem we are working to solve -- giving survivors more time and choice, without sacrificing the evidence needed to bring their perpetrators to justice."
But again, this comes up against the (as of now) clear reality that the evidence collected with the kit wouldn’t hold up in court. So where is this justice coming from?
The MeToo Kits aren’t yet for sale directly to consumers. Instead, it appears that the startup is looking to sell the kits to universities and pharmacies. If you want to purchase one as a consumer, you’re added to a waiting list. No price is listed.
Giving survivors as much support and autonomy as possible is vital. But marketing DIY rape kits—at least in this context—is terribly misleading. The very use of the phrase “MeToo” co-opts a survivor movement. It’s hard to shake off the “ick” factor of this one.