In brief
The incident has sparked widespread criticism over privacy concerns and institutional control.
A university in Beijing has ignited public outrage after a disturbing incident where a student was reportedly required to demonstrate proof of menstruation to obtain sick leave. This incident comes amidst ongoing criticisms of universities in China for their perceived excessive control over students' lives.A video that recently went viral captures the moment in a clinic within Gengdan Institute, featuring a young woman confronting a staff member about the college’s sick leave requirements. Incredulously, the older woman responds, "Basically yes," indicating that it is a school rule to require such proof.As the controversy unfolds, local media has identified the incident's location as Gengdan Institute, which later defended its actions, stating in an official release that protocol was correctly followed. However, this assertion has only served to amplify criticism from social media users, who have viewed this encounter as an egregious violation of privacy.Neither Gengdan Institute nor the student has commented directly in response to inquiries from news outlets. The college issued a statement claiming the circulated videos were distorted and hinted at potential legal action against those disseminating misinformation. They further claimed that staff sought permission before proceeding with any clinical work, denying that physical examinations took place.In the now-deleted video, the staff member does not provide written evidence of the supposed school regulations regarding menstrual verification and suggests the student visit a hospital instead.As online discussions rampaged, many netizens reacted with anger and sarcasm towards the college's policies. Comments such as "My head hurts, should I open my skull?" and "Let's just take the sanitary pad out and paste it on the sick note" illustrate the level of disdain toward the college’s request.In defense of the stringent measure, a Gengdan Institute staffer explained that the requirement was likely intended to prevent students from falsely claiming illness. This rationale, however, has not sat well with the public, with many arguing that a better solution might be maintaining records of absenteeism rather than invasive questioning.State media commentary has also amplified criticisms, asserting that such invasive inquiries regarding menstruation create unnecessary discomfort for female students and could negatively influence their mental health.Gengdan Institute now joins a roster of Chinese universities facing backlash for heavy-handed regulations affecting student autonomy. Last year, multiple universities were criticized for banning bed curtains in dorms, citing safety concerns, while others imposed extreme travel restrictions during holiday breaks.In response to the uproar, a user on Xiaohongshu, claiming to be a Gengdan Institute student, expressed solidarity with the criticism of the school clinic. Previous complaints had reportedly gone unaddressed, but the viral nature of this incident has propelled the discussion into a trending topic.
