Gengdan Institute’s invasive rule demands women prove menstruation by undressing for sick leave. Outraged students and activists demand justice and dignity.
On May 15, 2025, a student at Gengdan Institute of Beijing University of Technology revealed a deeply patriarchal policy: women must lower their pants to confirm menstruation to access sick leave. In a widely shared video, the student confronted clinic staff, questioning, “So every woman on her period has to take off her pants and show you to get a leave note?” The staff affirmed it as a mandatory rule, igniting fury for its blatant violation of women’s privacy and autonomy.
The university defended the policy, claiming it prevents misuse of leave, with staff member Xu stating some students applied multiple times monthly. On May 16, Gengdan Institute clarified the process involved no physical exams, only verbal consent, but this did little to quell the backlash. The student, armed with hospital proof of her condition, demanded a respectful policy, refusing to comply without a written rule. Her bravery has inspired many.
Online, women’s rights advocates and netizens called the policy “degrading” and a stark example of institutional misogyny. This incident underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive reforms in educational institutions, as activists rally for systemic change to protect women’s dignity.
