Indonesia tests female police recruits' virginity

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Indonesia tests female police recruits' virginity
By NINIEK KARMINI, Associated Press | November 18, 2014 | Updated: November 18, 2014 3:16am

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia must stop subjecting female police recruits to physical tests in an effort to determine whether they are virgins, a leading human rights group said Tuesday, describing the practice as degrading and discriminatory.

Human Rights Watch said in a report that such tests were a longstanding practice in Indonesia, where patriarchal attitudes and practices in the security forces are common.

The report was based on interviews with female police officers and police applicants in six Indonesian cities who had undergone the so called "two-finger" test to determine whether their hymens are intact.

The requirement is even posted on the jobs website for Indonesia's national police. On Tuesday it read, "In addition to the medical and physical tests, women who want to be policewomen must also undergo virginity tests. So all women who want to become policewomen should keep their virginity."


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Indonesia-tests-female-police-recruits-virginity-5900041.php

[Helen Borg]

1. What??

This is for f*ed up!

[newfie11]

2. Disgusted!

I want to go live on a planet where women rule!

[shenmue]

3. Me too

[7962]

4. Unbelievable. Absolutely ridiculous.

[mopinko]

5. virginity tests, aka

RAPE!!

[cosmicone]

6. Religion requires controlling women

Some religions want absolute control.

[BadtotheboneBob]

7. Yes... and this is a prime example of what Bartcop would call...

... Religious insanity... I miss Ol' Bart

[WhoWoodaKnew]

8. We're really naive about what happens in many parts of the world.

At least that's been my opinion for about 3 decades. Before that, when I was in my 20's, I just figured everyone was like us.

[ZombieHorde]

9. I didn't know about that.

So fucked up.

[Ash_F]

11. I have to say, this one genuinely surprised me. /nt

[DawgHouse]

12. I can't wrap my brain around this one.

I understand patriarchal attitudes and practices, but the article says: "Indonesian police spokesman Maj. Gen. Ronny Sompie urged people not "respond negatively" to the tests, saying they were aimed at ensuring applicants were free from sexually transmitted diseases. He said both male and female recruits also get blood tests for STDs."

What does an intact hymen have to do with STD's, and why wouldn't the blood test be sufficient? The job posting says the females must undergo virginity tests, so it has nothing to do with STD's. Why do they want only virgins on their police force? I'm thinking it's to keep women from applying for the jobs. But I don't know, this whole story makes my head hurt.