School: "Procedure to Prevent Sick Leave Abuse"
Netizens: "Absurd and Humiliating"
A university in China has sparked controversy after reportedly demanding that a female student lower her pants to prove she was menstruating when she applied for menstrual leave.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on May 26 (local time), a female student enrolled at a university in Beijing claimed in a video posted online on May 15 that, during the process of applying for sick leave, she was asked at the campus health center to remove her clothing in order to verify that she was menstruating.
In the released video, when the student asked, "So does this mean every female student who is menstruating must lower her pants to receive a leave notice?" the staff member replied, "Basically, yes. This is not a rule I personally set, but a school regulation." When the student requested written proof of such a regulation, the staff member did not respond and instead asked her to obtain a medical certificate from a hospital.
As the video spread and controversy grew, the university issued a statement on May 16, saying, "The staff member followed standard procedures." A school official explained, "This rule is not new," and added, "It is intended to prevent abuse of sick leave." He further clarified, "Some students have requested sick leave four or five times a month," and stated, "There are reasons why the school enforces such a policy."
Ultimately, the student posted another video stating that she later visited a hospital and obtained the required documents. She said, "I am simply requesting a reasonable and respectful policy for women to be able to apply for menstrual leave." She emphasized, "If there really is a regulation at the school requiring female students to show menstrual blood to a doctor in order to receive sick leave, I will delete the video. But if such a rule does not exist, I will not back down."
This incident has rapidly spread across Chinese social networking services (SNS), sparking major controversy. Local netizens have criticized the practice, calling it "absurd and humiliating," and asking, "So if you need leave for diarrhea, do you have to defecate in front of the school doctor?" Others commented, "It is possible to take sick leave four or five times a month due to menstrual pain. I once menstruated for 50 consecutive days due to chronic fatigue," and, "Forcing female students to remove their clothes is harassment."
Lawyer Zhang Yongquan pointed out in an interview with SCMP that such practices clearly violate students' privacy. He stated, "These actions constitute humiliating treatment and can cause severe mental anguish or long-term psychological harm," and added, "The school should issue a public apology, provide compensation for psychological damage, and be held accountable through administrative measures by the education authorities."
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