"Can Lift a 4kg Electric Saw with One Hand"... Chinese Forensic Scientist in Her 20s Builds Physique for Her Work

The First Female Forensic Scientist at Chongqing Forensic Research Institute
"Working Out to Enhance Professional Skills"

The story of a woman in her twenties in China, who built a muscular physique to enhance her professional skills as a forensic scientist, has come to light.

Yan Yan, a 26-year-old forensic scientist from China. Yan Yan SNS

On July 28 (local time), the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the story of Yan Yan, age 26, the first female forensic scientist at the Chongqing Forensic Research Institute in China.

After majoring in forensic science at Chongqing Medical University, she has worked at the institute for three years since graduation, handling more than 600 bodies. She is currently in charge of investigating sudden and unexplained deaths at the institute.

She operates a social media account with 14,000 followers, where she introduces herself as a "fitness enthusiast." Yan Yan shares on social media that she can deadlift 120 kilograms, lift a 4-kilogram electric saw with one hand, and perform a craniotomy in under three minutes.

The reason she is so dedicated to working out is to improve her job performance. SCMP reported, "Forensic scientists must handle bodies weighing up to 150 kilograms, and women are often discriminated against in the industry due to perceived lack of physical strength." The report also stated, "There is a perception that women are not suitable for night shifts or business trips, and some institutions openly hire only men."

Yan Yan said she wants to break the social prejudice against the profession of forensic scientists. She shared that after people learned she was a forensic scientist, some avoided shaking her hand or reacted coldly. She expressed regret that negative perceptions of forensic scientists, regardless of gender, still persist throughout society.

Yan Yan currently receives support from her family and takes pride in her work. Both her husband and her in-laws fully understand her profession, and her husband is also interested in fitness, which gives them a strong sense of mutual understanding.

She also emphasized that forensic science is not simply about handling bodies. Yan Yan said, "It is a meaningful job that brings justice to the deceased and peace to the bereaved families."

Additionally, Yan Yan said that as a forensic scientist, she has witnessed a variety of reactions from families of those who passed away from illness or accidents. She remarked, "We should fully enjoy life while we are alive."