A grim price to pay for education: mayor's "virginity test" is a violation of young students‏

Demand an end to invasive virginity tests for scholarships Sign My Petition meet the petition author Michael T. South Africa Dear friends, Many of us have had to work hard to gain a good education. But for some young girls, gaining a scholarship requires something far more sinister than dedicated study. Dudu Mazibuko, mayor of the UThukela District in South Africa, tells young female students that their worth is found between their legs, not in their head or heart. Young girls are being forced to endure invasive physical "virginity tests" to secure their education. Please join Care2 member Michael Taylor in demanding an end to this horrible procedure. The manual checking of the hymen is not only distressing, it's not even a reliable way to check virginity. Hymens break for all sorts of reasons. Subjecting girls to this meaningless test is simply a way to show them that they have no control over their own bodies or sexual boundaries.Please let Mayor Dudu Mazibuko know that girls must be respected and nurtured, not invaded and punished. Scholarships should be awarded on the basis of a girl's need and academic merit, not her hymen. If enough people sign Michael's petition, it will put pressure on Mayor Dudu Mazibuko to end this outdated and damaging practice, and find effective ways to promote educational excellence.