Controversy erupts over female students being required to prove they have menstrual cramps in order to be allowed to take time off from school.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - A Chinese female student recently shared her shocking experience when she requested leave due to menstrual cramps. She was asked by a female medical staff member to undress to prove she was genuinely suffering from menstrual pain.

The shock of having to take time off due to menstrual cramps.

The incident occurred on May 15th at Gengdan Academy, a private university in Beijing, China, which is affiliated with Beijing University of Technology.

In a video shared on social media by a female student from Gengdan Academy, the unnamed student stated that she went to the school's infirmary to request leave from school that day due to severe menstrual cramps.

The shocking story of a female student requesting leave due to menstrual cramps has sparked controversy in China (Illustrative image: Leoai).

A female staff member working in the school's infirmary asked the female student to undress in order to confirm that she was actually menstruating. According to the infirmary staff member, this was necessary in order to issue a leave of absence certificate for the student.

The female student refused to comply, arguing that the request was inappropriate. However, the medical staff member insisted, "This is not a rule I made, but a school regulation."

When the female student requested to see the document containing this unbelievable regulation, the female medical staff member was unable to produce any. To allow the student to take authorized leave from school while refusing to cooperate with the school's medical staff, the woman instructed the student to go to the hospital for an examination, so that medical records could prove her authorized leave.

The incident quickly sparked controversy on Chinese social media. On May 16, Gengdan Academy issued a statement asserting that the medical staff "followed the correct procedures."

Due to the controversy surrounding the incident on social media, the school conducted an internal investigation. The investigation revealed that the medical staff had inquired about the female student's health before performing the necessary examination.

The female staff member will not force the student and will only proceed with the verification if the student agrees to cooperate. The verification process will not involve the use of any equipment or physical contact with the student.

A representative from Gengdan Academy told Chinese media that the regulation mentioned by the medical staff member was not new and was only intended to prevent the abuse of requesting sick leave.

"There are female students who request leave up to 4-5 times a month, all due to menstrual cramps, so the school had to implement this rule for the medical staff," a representative from Gengdan Academy stated.

Controversy in public opinion and the perspective of lawyers.

The female student then went to the hospital for a check-up to obtain a certificate. She made a video sharing the incident and posted it on social media, hoping that the school and its health department would find a reasonable solution and implement regulations that respect female students more.

The incident has sparked much discussion on Chinese social media. Many people disapprove of the school's rule to check whether female students are actually menstruating. Many believe this requirement is insensitive, violates privacy, and could even cause psychological harm to the students.

The controversial incident has attracted comments from the online community and lawyers (Illustrative image: SCMP).

One netizen humorously commented, "If I had diarrhea, I wouldn't know how to explain it to the school's medical staff."

Another person analyzed: "The fact that female students request 4-5 absences in a month due to menstrual cramps is possible due to abnormalities related to menstruation. I myself have experienced this and gone through a period of menstrual cramps that lasted up to 50 days."

Another person commented harshly: "This isn't a rule, it's an abuse of power. Forcing female students to undress like that could be considered harassment."

Lawyer Zhang Yongquan of Grandall Law Firm told Chinese media that such inspections could violate students' personal privacy and dignity, according to China's Civil Code and the Law on Protecting Women's Rights and Interests.

Lawyer Zhang said: "The actions of the medical staff during the check-up, as well as the school's regulations, reflect a lack of trust in students. This does not reflect the core values ​​upheld in the educational environment and gives a sense of uncivilized and negative perception in higher education."

This controversial behavior could also be considered an insult to dignity and cause psychological harm to the female students. The school needs to publicly apologize and compensate the students for emotional distress. Furthermore, the school should face disciplinary action from the relevant educational authorities for creating such negative public opinion."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/tranh-cai-viec-nu-sinh-phai-chung-minh-bi-dau-bung-kinh-moi-duoc-nghi-hoc-20250526120057480.htm