By voicing their needs, Chinese women are normalising them

AdvertisementChina societyOpinionChina OpinionPhoebe ZhangOpinionBy voicing their needs, Chinese women are normalising themIn films and on social media, women in China are openly advocating for themselves and fighting taboos around women’s health 3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenPhoebe Zhangin ShenzhenPublished: 9:30am, 16 Apr 2026I heard an audible gasp in the audience, just as a gynaecologist on the movie screen tries to shove a speculum – a hollow cylinder used to open up a woman’s cervix – into the lower body of the protagonist. The film’s main character, a 25-year-old woman named Xu Ke, grimaces in pain. “Relax,” the gynaecologist says, but her tone and hand movements are anything but relaxing. After a sudden shove, Xu feels the pain, wriggles off the examination table and falls to the floor. The scene from the drama It’s OK, which opened on April 3, is rare. Young women’s medical needs and discomfort are rarely discussed publicly in China. AdvertisementThe film goes on to explore other topics that are sometimes kept secret in Chinese society. Xu’s mother was frequently abused by her father, ran away from home and got a job as a domestic worker, but was sexually harassed by her employer. Xu tries to have surgery to remove a polyp from her uterus, but because she has never had sexual intercourse, the doctor requires her family to sign a permission letter, claiming the surgery would “damage her hymen”.In fact, the film begins with a bold scene. Xu is competing in a race at the school where she works when she feels blood trickling down her thigh. A student captures it on video and uploads it online, but instead of punishing them, she gives a talk in class about women’s bodies and sets up a box to provide menstrual pads.AdvertisementSuch a bold portrayal of a young woman’s values and the relationship between mother and daughter is rare in China, but it is becoming more popular. In recent years, many films, talk shows and books have focused on what young women want and need, portraying characters who no longer adhere to traditional gender stereotypes. 02:07 China’s new wave of young women stand-up comedians tackle stereotypes China’s new wave of young women stand-up comedians tackle stereotypesAdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x