China student says she had to 'take off trousers' for period leave

While the college said its staff had "followed protocol", many decry an alleged invasion of privacy.

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A viral video, filmed inside what appears to be a clinic and posted to social media this month, shows a young woman asking an older woman: "Does every menstruating girl have to take off their trousers and show you before they can get a sick note?"

"Basically yes," the older woman replies. "This is a school rule."

Local media identified the video's location as a clinic at the Gengdan Institute university college, which later said in a statement that its staff had "followed protocol". But social media users have decried the encounter as a serious invasion of privacy.

Neither the student nor Gengdan Institute immediately responded to BBC News' requests for comment.