Stripped of dignity: Student's menstrual proof demand sparks outrage

IMAGINE this: once a month, like clockwork, you wake up to pain so sharp it doubles you over. It feels like your insides are being wrung out.

Every step, every movement, every breath hurts. You’re nauseous, fatigued, and drenched in sweat.

Now, imagine being told to “just deal with it” or, worse, prove that your pain is real. For millions of women worldwide, this isn’t a hypothetical scenario, it’s reality. Severe menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea, can be as debilitating as a heart attack, according to medical experts.

Yet, the cultural stigma surrounding menstruation has left many women to suffer in silence, their pain dismissed or minimised.

Recently, this issue made international headlines when a college in Beijing asked a student to "prove" she was on her period to qualify for sick leave. The student was reportedly told to pull down her pants to show "evidence" of menstruation.

The incident, captured in a viral video, provoked widespread outrage, sparking a conversation about menstrual leave and the need for policies that respect women’s health and dignity. What is menstrual pain really like?

For those who don’t experience it, menstrual pain might sound like a bad cramp or a mild inconvenience.

But for many women, it’s so much more. Dysmenorrhea can cause excruciating pelvic pain, radiating to the lower back and thighs. Some women experience migraines, vomiting, diarrhoea, or fainting spells.

The fatigue that accompanies it can make even simple tasks like standing or walking feel impossible.

Now, think about how this would play out in your daily life. Imagine trying to focus on a demanding work project or sitting through a three-hour lecture while your body feels like it’s in open revolt.

Picture being told to smile, push through, or not let it affect your performance. For the women who endure this monthly ordeal, the dismissal of their pain isn’t just frustrating, it’s dehumanising.

What happened in Beijing: a case of privacy and dignity violated

The incident at Beijing’s Gengdan Institute exposed the lengths to which women are forced to go to justify their pain.

When a student requested sick leave for menstrual discomfort, she was asked to pull down her pants to prove her condition.

“Does every menstruating girl have to take off their trousers and show you before they can get a sick note?” the student asked in the video. The staff member’s response? “Basically, yes. This is a school rule.”

According to the "South China Morning Post", the university later defended the policy, claiming it was implemented to prevent students from abusing sick leave. But this justification only added fuel to the fire, with critics pointing out the invasive and humiliating nature of the practice.

One social media user summed up the absurdity with a biting question: “If I have diarrhoea, do I need to poop in front of the school doctor to get leave?”

Menstrual leave is not a new concept. In countries like Japan, Indonesia, Zambia and South Korea, policies allowing women to take time off during their periods have existed for decades.

Yet, the idea remains controversial, with critics arguing that it could reinforce gender discrimination in the workplace. But dismissing menstrual leave outright ignores the reality for women who suffer from conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or severe dysmenorrhea.

For these women, working through their period isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s impossible. Menstrual leave isn’t about giving women special treatment; it’s about recognising a legitimate health need.

Just as we wouldn’t expect someone with a migraine to power through a full day of work, we shouldn’t expect women in severe menstrual pain to do the same.

The bigger picture: Dismissing women’s pain

The uproar over the Beijing incident is part of a larger conversation about how women’s pain is often dismissed or minimised.

Research shows that women are less likely than men to have their pain taken seriously by medical professionals. This bias can lead to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment for conditions like endometriosis, a disorder that affects one in 10 women.

The lack of policies like menstrual leave only compounds the problem, forcing women to choose between their health and their responsibilities. Menstrual pain is real, debilitating, and deserving of recognition.