Pap Smears Forced on Brazilian Teachers

The Department of Education in Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous state, requires female teachers either to have a Pap smear to prove they're cancer-free, or present a doctor's note saying they're a virgin. "The health inspections are intended to ensure, beyond technical ability, the physical and mental ability of candidates to keep their jobs for an average of 25 years," the city wrote in a statement. The rules, which have been in place since at least 2012, but recent outcry has sparked fresh attention. Last year, the government asked a northern state to eliminate a test checking if female police candidates were virgins.