‘Do boys have no hands?’: anger over stereotypes as woman counsellor at China university asks girls to help clean boys’ dormitories
- Move aimed at fostering ‘unity and friendship’ sparks online wave of anger over gender stereotyping
- University says investigation into proposal has been launched as social media observers ask, ‘Are we in the Qing Dynasty?’
A university in China is in hot water after it suggested that female students help clean boys’ dormitories in what it described as an act of “unity and friendship”.
The educational institution in Wuhan, in the central Chinese province of Hubei, has drawn sharp criticism online after it suggested a “lottery” system for cleaning living quarters.
On September 27, someone posted a thread titled, “Expose the school of my friend – are we living in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912)?” on the Xiaohongshu social media platform.
The post included a picture of a slide outlining requirements for student dormitory affairs at the school.
One of the bullet points said: “The problem of the boys’ dormitories is a headache and we hope that all female students can work together to help improve the environment.”
According to the poster’s friend, the initiative was suggested by a young female counsellor.