The recent controversy emerging from a private university in Beijing has sparked a wave of public anger and disbelief. A female student at the Gengdan Institute of Beijing University of Technology has come forward with a disturbing allegation: she was Asked to pull down her pants at the campus clinic to prove she was menstruating before she could receive a sick leave note.
Her video testimony, which she posted online on May 15, quickly went viral across Chinese social media, igniting fierce debate over women’s rights, institutional misogyny, and the abuse of power by campus authorities.
The Gengdan Institute is an independent undergraduate college affiliated with one of China’s top universities, Beijing University of Technology. This affiliation gives the institution a level of prestige and authority in the academic world. However, the recent incident has cast a dark shadow over its reputation.
The female student’s video, where she confronts a female staff member at the clinic, has caused outrage due to the invasive and humiliating nature of the demand she was reportedly subjected to.
The Incident That Shocked the Nation
In the widely circulated video, the student can be heard questioning the staff member about the regulation. “So what you are saying is, every woman on her period has to take off her pants and show you to get a leave note?” she asks. The staff member, without hesitation, responds, “Basically, yes. It is not my personal rule, it is a regulation.” This candid exchange left many viewers stunned and appalled by the university’s apparent policy.
When the student further requested a written copy of this so-called regulation, the staff member failed to produce any documentation but continued to insist that the clinic could not issue a leave note without proof. Instead, the student was directed to seek documentation from an external hospital, placing undue burden and stress on her during an already vulnerable moment.
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This exchange revealed a lack of empathy and a complete disregard for the student’s dignity. For many, the video was more than just a single case of misconduct — it exposed a wider problem within institutional protocols that discriminate against and dehumanize women.
University’s Defense and Policy Justification
Following the outrage, the university issued a statement defending the staff member’s actions, asserting that she had merely followed standard procedures. “According to our investigation, the clinic staff followed proper protocols.
They inquired about the student’s physical condition and, after obtaining her consent, proceeded with further diagnosis. No instruments or physical examinations were used,” read the university’s official statement.
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A university employee, identified only by the surname Xu, further clarified to CNR News that the policy had been introduced to curb the alleged abuse of sick leave, especially by students claiming menstrual issues multiple times in a month.
Xu cited a case in which a student had reportedly requested menstrual leave four or five times in a single month. “To my knowledge, the rule was introduced because some students repeatedly claimed to be on their period to request sick leave. So the school had its reasons for enforcing this policy,” said Xu.
However, the justification provided did little to calm public anger. Critics argue that even if there are cases of students misusing menstrual leave, subjecting female students to humiliating physical verification is inexcusable. Such a policy reflects a gross misunderstanding of menstrual health and a serious lack of respect for bodily autonomy.
A Student’s Brave Stand and the Fight for Dignity
The student involved in the incident did not back down. In a follow-up video, she stated that she had obtained documentation from a hospital, as directed, but strongly opposed the school’s rationale. She challenged the university to produce an official written policy requiring female students to show menstrual blood to a doctor in order to receive a leave note.
“If the school truly has a written rule requiring female students to show menstrual blood to a female doctor in order to qualify for sick leave, I will delete my video. But if no such rule exists, I will not back down,” she declared.
Her courageous stand has resonated with many across China. It has not only highlighted the insensitivity of institutional policies toward female health but also the strength it takes to speak out against unjust practices. The student’s actions have emboldened others to share similar experiences and demand accountability from educational institutions.
The outrage has also brought attention to the broader issue of how menstrual health is treated in Chinese society. Menstruation, still considered a taboo topic in many parts of the world, is rarely discussed openly, and this silence often leads to policies that are both intrusive and ignorant.
The lack of proper guidelines or awareness about female reproductive health only worsens the situation for young women, especially in academic environments where stress is already high.
Repercussions and Public Backlash
The public response to the incident has been overwhelmingly critical. Chinese netizens flooded social media platforms with comments denouncing the school’s practices. Hashtags related to the incident trended on Weibo, with thousands calling for the university to revise its policies and issue an apology to the student.
Human rights advocates and legal experts have also weighed in. Many believe that the policy, as described, could constitute a violation of privacy rights under Chinese law. They argue that forcing students to undergo such invasive verification is not only unethical but potentially unlawful.
Amid growing pressure, there have been increasing calls for the Ministry of Education to investigate the matter and ensure that educational institutions across the country adopt respectful and non-invasive sick leave policies for female students. Activists are urging for clear, humane guidelines that recognize menstrual health as a legitimate medical issue — one that does not require invasive proof.
While this case is particularly outrageous, it reflects a larger issue of institutionalized sexism in education and the workplace. Women around the world still face stigmatization and skepticism when it comes to menstrual health. Whether it’s being denied leave, asked invasive questions, or ridiculed for expressing discomfort, the burden of proof unfairly falls on women to justify a natural biological process.
This incident also reveals the broader mistrust that institutions often display toward students, especially young women. By assuming deceit or exaggeration without evidence, and by enforcing draconian policies in response, universities risk alienating the very students they are meant to support and educate.
More broadly, it calls for educational institutions to rethink their approach to student welfare. Instead of punitive or humiliating policies, schools should invest in proper health education, provide supportive resources, and trust students enough to accommodate their needs without invasive surveillance.
The brave stance taken by the student in this incident is a reminder that even in systems where power seems skewed, individual voices can make a significant difference. Her decision to confront the staff member, document the conversation, and publicize the injustice has not only held the institution accountable but also opened a vital conversation on bodily autonomy and dignity.
This case should serve as a wake-up call to all educational institutions, not just in China but globally. When the basic dignity of a student is violated under the guise of policy enforcement, the legitimacy of that institution comes into question. It’s time for a fundamental shift in how we understand, discuss, and legislate menstrual health — with empathy, respect, and most importantly, trust.