The São Paulo Department of Education requires that prospective teachers undergo invasive examinations before they are eligible for jobs. Women must either have a gynecological exam or have proof that they are not sexually active (such as a statement from a doctor) to show they do not have certain cancers. Until recently, women also had to have a colposcopy, an examination used to find certain kinds of diseases. Men over 40 must have a prostate exam.
These health examinations are intrusive, violate a right to privacy, and don't seem relevant to the job for which these individuals are applying. Women who are not sexually active can still get reproductive cancers, so it is unclear why a doctor's statement or something similar proving the candidate is not sexually active is adequate.
Please tell the São Paulo Department of Education to respect their candidates' right to privacy and end these requirements.
Dear São Paulo Department of Education,
Right now, candidates for teaching jobs must undergo invasive examinations in order to be considered for jobs. Men over 40 must have prostate exams, and women must have a gynecological exam or prove that they are not sexually active by presenting a doctor's statement or something similar to show that they are free of certain cancers. Since women who are not sexually active can still get these cancers, it is unclear why a statement of not being sexually active is considered acceptable.
This is a violation of the right to privacy, and doesn't seem necessary for the job at hand. Please change these requirements and give candidates the right to choose whether to have these examinations done.
Thank you for your time.
