Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng utilised personal connections to conduct gynaecological examinations on all female students from seven high schools, simultaneously providing reproductive health education at these seven schools.
According to relevant data from the WHO, the prevalence of gynaecological diseases among Chinese women exceeds 90% in their lifetime, with over 200,000 deaths annually due to various reproductive system illnesses. The pelvic cavity, closely linked to these reproductive system diseases, encompasses the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and the majority of reproductive organs. A minimal percentage of women undergo regular gynaecological examinations, which should include routine checks, vaginal discharge examinations, gynaecological ultrasounds, TCT and HPV testing, and six other reproductive gland examinations. A significant proportion of gynaecological diseases are attributed to the use of "inferior" sanitary pads during menstruation[1].
The examinations for thousands of individuals were conducted over five mornings, during which Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng made a brief trip to City A.
Taotao's situation continued to improve, and discussions regarding the relevant topics of the incident were ongoing on various online platforms.
Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng were aware of these developments.
In the editing room, the two reviewed the completed experimental video and discussed several details with the staff before Yu Cheng headed to the recording studio for voice-over work. Unlike in "Divergence," where Yu Cheng's voice was deemed suitable for the film, Zhong Shao expressed, "In a husband-and-husband scenario, I naturally want you to do the voice-over for the short film that I produced. This would constitute the most perfect lineup."
The following day in the evening, Zhong Shao released a social media post for the first time, expressing thoughts on recent controversial events and related topics.
Zhong Shao V: #DistanceBetweenSexualViolence&Us# During this period, @ZhongShaoStudio, @YuChengStudio, along with @HengshengLawFirm, conducted a social experiment on women and sexual violence. We aimed to deconstruct the psychological state of women facing violence and the distance between sexual violence and us in the most straightforward manner.
The video, accompanied by straightforward language, reflects Zhong Shao's bold yet restrained personality.
The video begins with a black screen, gradually revealing images of staff setting up the simulated experimental environment. A deep voiceover accompanies the visuals.
"Gender-based violence (GBV) can affect individuals of all genders - women, men, LGBTQ+, but women and girls are particularly vulnerable[2]. The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life." Globally, one in three women (approximately 2.36 billion people) will experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner or non-partner during their lifetime - a figure that has remained unchanged over the past decade. This violence often begins early, with one in four young women (aged 15-24) who have been in a relationship experiencing violence by the age of 25 [3]. Additionally, international studies indicate that 120 million girls and young women under the age of 20 have experienced some form of forced sexual contact[4]."
As the narrative progresses, the construction of four different simulation rooms is completed.
These rooms represent different social settings - a family bedroom, an emergency room nurse station, a school toilet, and a shelter in an old community.
The four scenes are displayed like monitors in a row, with four "women" standing in front of the cameras, each with a unique physique and undisclosed appearance.
Suddenly, No.1's female student's neck was harshly grabbed and dragged towards the end of the bed, as the male's heavy breathing and the woman's screams and struggles were about to escalate infinitely. At that moment, a man in a black leather jacket hurried to the emergency nurse station, holding a urine basin that was not yet cleaned, and splashed it towards the on-duty nurse. The nurse quickly protected her head with both elbows and stood up swiftly, as the urine basin hit her rib and bounced backwards. Before she could react, the man grabbed a chair from the nurse station and smashed it onto the female nurse's head. The chair hit the nurse's back without a loud crash, but was replaced by the sounds of punches and kicks.
No.2's scene continued to unfold, with a disturbing performance taking place in the public restroom on campus. A group of male students dragged a girl into a urinal trough and used a cleaning mop from the utility closet to poke at the girl. Despite her attempts to escape, she was pulled back each time, leaving her with no choice but to curl up in pain, holding her head.
The vulgar language of the boys became increasingly indistinct, while the sound of tightening belts became more distinct. In a shaded cement area of an old residential area, a girl barely over ten years old lay with dilated pupils, her upper clothing open and her arms covered in abrasions. Looking down, all that could be seen was a pool of blood, with only two socks left on her bare legs. A man stood beside her, licking his lips, pulling up his pants that were down to his ankles, the buckle of his belt lightly tapping against the material, creating a rustling friction.
As the friction sound continued, the scene transitioned back to the bedroom, where the man and woman were nowhere to be seen. Instead, a six-year-old girl lay on the bed, being put to sleep by her grandfather. The girl gradually fell into a deep slumber, and the wrinkled palm that lightly patted her back moved down her spine, lifting her sleep dress and exploring further.
Amidst the rising commotion, the touch became smooth and delicate. In front of the emergency nurse station, a female doctor was in the midst of handing over duties to the night shift nurse when a male patient suddenly stormed out of the emergency room, looking furious. He brandished a fruit knife from his sleeve and stabbed it directly at the female doctor's abdomen. The doctor instinctively protected her seven-month-pregnant belly with her hand, but still sustained an injury.
The man's world turned into a sea of blood, his murmuring voice turning into a frenzied madness. Gradually, the feigned madness shifted into a different form of manic torment.
In the male restroom, a man of middle age and a girl in a school uniform were tightly pressed against the sink. Both were neatly dressed from the waist up.
The man's shaking body continuously leaked a milky, viscous substance, while his trembling body, crimson eye sockets, and clenched lips all indicated the girl's overwhelming shame, fear, and dread. He grabbed the girl's head, held her close, and whispered provocative and repugnant words in her ear, questioning her desire to compete for a spot and the impact on her parents' reputation.
The girl remained speechless, sliding her hands down against the sink.
Meanwhile, another girl who had been eavesdropping outside trembled as she retreated, knowing all too well that the man inside was her father.
Unaware of the inexplicable situation, she had not yet been dragged by the boy into the urinal within.
Hastening footsteps retreated in a panic, as a lecherous man gradually forced the "woman" with long, soft hair towards the concealed area of the old residential complex.
"You're just a man acting like a woman, but you're even prettier than a real woman," the man said, rubbing his hands together with remnants of unwashed black paint in the crevices, "We're all men, meeting halfway is fate, and no one loses with a quick encounter."
With a rough wall behind her and no way out, the man smirked and reached out towards her.
The screen fades gradually and then speeds up to silently play scenes that have not yet appeared, while the narrated voice of praise smoothly rolls in.
"The World Health Organization defines sexual violence as the use of force or coercion by the perpetrator in an attempt to compel others to engage in any form of sexual activity, sexual harassment, sexual innuendo, trafficking, etc.[5]. These behaviours constitute sexual violence regardless of the relationship, time, or location between the victim and the perpetrator. Whether in times of peace or war, sexual violence remains one of the most common and harmful human rights violations. Victims of sexual violence are distributed across a spectrum, including women, men, children, and those who define themselves in other ways, such as transgender individuals. Women, in particular, are at the highest risk of gender-based violence, especially sexual violence, with the majority of sexual violence acts committed by intimate partners. Despite limited gender data, globally, 6% of women have reported experiencing sexual assault by someone other than a partner[6]."
As the scenes progress, eight "actresses" numbered 1 to 4 appear in sequence in front of the camera. Among them, some remove lipstick, some take off wigs, some reveal scars on their arms, some smile awkwardly at the camera, some have blank expressions, and some shed tears. The playback at 0.75x speed further enhances the emotional impact of their appearance and demeanour.
"As a man, I have attempted to imagine the psychological state and subsequent actions a woman would take to defend her human rights when faced with violence. Unfortunately, in the face of adversity and suffering, humanity still struggles to truly empathize with others' experiences. I can only speculate to a certain extent and cannot delve deeper into the trauma. It is not that we cannot, but rather we dare not, a deep sense of shame as a man."
"When women face violence, what are their psychological processes? Why do they endure in silence?"
This question is not just directed at them, but also at all.
The scene shifts, with actors and individuals involved in the story sitting on opposite sides.
No.1- Actor 2: I was unsure of why he lifted my skirt, it made me uncomfortable and I wanted to move, but the director insisted that I stay still.
No.1 - Victim 2: The incident occurred when I was six years old, I wasn't fully asleep as my eyes were closed, making all sensations heightened. Although I didn't know what my grandfather was touching on me, the feeling was repulsive, yet I hesitated to react. It left a deep impression on me, leading to my aversion to physical contact with others. It wasn't until I learned about female anatomy in school that I realised what my grandfather's actions were, ultimately resulting in cutting ties with him.
No.1- Actor 1: When he grabbed the back of my neck, my mind would go blank for a moment, followed by trembling and overwhelming fear, feeling as though I wouldn't see the sunrise the next morning.
No.1 - Victim 1: He often degraded me emotionally during instances of sexual abuse, gradually making me believe that I was truly as despicable as he described. I contemplated reporting him and seeking a divorce, but lacking physical evidence of violence on my body and fearing to reveal more truth to the police in his presence, I chose to endure and remain silent, especially when he threatened to harm our child.
No.2- Actor 1: When I realised that chair was coming down toward me, it was already too late. At that moment, fear overwhelmed me, leaving me unable to think, yet with no choice but to endure.
No.2 - Victim 1: If it weren't for the emergency room, I might have lived a few more years. In the ER, nurses and doctors face equal pressures. We deal with critically ill patients year-round, doing our utmost to save each one. It is our duty to answer and address every need of the patients' families, even when they become unreasonable. We understand their anxiety when facing a loved one's serious illness, but we are not all-powerful. Our physical and mental strength can be depleted. Apart from our work, we face as much gratitude as we do criticism from patients' families. Besides non-physical violence, we typically choose to endure, to rationalise, telling ourselves it's due to asymmetric information.
No.2- Actor 2: While we sometimes see news reports of hospital disputes, when I, as a doctor, see a patient pull out a knife on me, my anger and heartache are indescribable. At that moment, I questioned if choosing this profession was right. As a mother myself, my ultimate fear is not for my own safety, but for that of my child.
No.2 - Victim 2: At that time, I was seven and a half months pregnant when the knife went through my hand and pierced into my belly. I underwent abortion and nerve repair surgeries. Although the child was premature, thankfully both are still healthy. Today marks the 600th day since my surgery, yet I still cannot hold a pen. As an obstetrician and gynaecologist, this means I will never be able to stand on the operating table to save women in need of my help, or gather medical data related to women in my professional field. Did you know? Even data on menstruation and other aspects of women's health are scarce and lacking in the realm of scientific medicine. For a long time, I felt despondent to the point of becoming silent, until my therapist asked me, "Have you ever considered educating society about women's gynaecological diseases in a different role as a doctor, providing women with a clearer understanding of their physiological makeup?"
No.3 - Actor 2: Despair was the only feeling I had at that time, as if I was forced into an abyss, living in darkness ever since. Another feeling was hatred, hating myself for not daring to resist, hating my family of origin for not giving me the emboldened to say "NO."
No.3 - Victim 2: I wanted to die, to retaliate against the world, but I couldn't say anything. (Eyes reddening) After the incident, I actually told my mother that I hoped she, as an adult, would fight for justice for me. Instead, she asked me to bury the matter deep in my heart, forbidding me from speaking about it to anyone, because if I did, not only would my life be over, but they would also face judgment. But... I don't understand why it had to be me. (Bursts into tears) Why did this happen to me when my life had barely begun!
No.3 - Actor 1: I have experienced school bullying before, which made me feel lonely, sleepless, and even had thoughts of suicide briefly. However, this bullying incident was different. When I was dragged into the male's toilet, I felt fear and dread like never before, because the perpetrator was a boy. You never know what comes next, and the desire to escape took over all rational thoughts.
No.3 - Victim 1: (Tears welling up) It was later that I found out the reason I was beaten up and dragged into the boys' restroom that day. Knowing the truth, I felt like I was atoning for my father's sins. They still don't know to this day that because of my father's..., I have emotional issues. And because of that retaliation, I have lost all hearing in my right ear.
No.4 - Actor 1: I wanted to scream, "Mom, save me," but no sound came out.
Mother of No.4's Victim 1: (Unable to hold back tears) It has been five years since that incident happened. From that day until now, she hasn't spoken a word. The doctor calls it PTSD, but I believe it's her chosen way of expression. In her silence, there are countless words she wants to say. But as a mother, I must speak out, seeking justice for my child. The wheels of justice turn slowly, and in the end, hell will be the perpetrator's final destination, not my daughter.
No.4's Actor and Victim 2: Director, you are correct. I am Chen Le, who made headlines last year after being assaulted while using the restroom. This incident is based on my personal experience. At the time, I had just graduated and entered society with little money in my pocket, forcing me to rent a place in an old residential area with inadequate facilities. Although I am transgender, I had not undergone surgery at the time and maintained a conventional appearance. I managed to escape from that pervert, but the disgusting feeling, both physically and mentally, will stay with me forever. It was the first time I deeply felt society's contempt for women and the default privilege given to men. This was a terrifying experience, highlighting that our civilization's progress is merely superficial. However, I have no regrets about being a woman; on the contrary, I am proud. The world has granted men too many privileges while overlooking the power of women. This is my most genuine feeling, standing at the intersection of male physiology and female psychology.
The scene then shifts to the current lives of these actors and victims, blending with the narrator's admiring voiceover.
"In this study, we have observed that while people are well aware of the pain and suffering caused by violence, openly acknowledging these obvious facts has taken much time. Victims who bravely come forward to share their untold stories face immense pressure, yet they still speak out. It is only when traumatic memories are made public that stereotypes against female victims can be overcome, silencing is no longer seen as a necessary means to return to normal life, and the serious impact of gender differences in societal consciousness on trauma is recognised as a dehumanising factor. The concept of "zero tolerance for violence" becomes a reality, not just a slogan."
"Gender bias is not limited to a specific region but a global issue. Similarly, the notion of being "female-friendly" is not just an advocacy or form of expression; it does not involve prioritising male needs over female needs. Instead, it ensures that women need not worry about their personal safety in any context. According to a report by the United Nations in 2023, it will take 131 years to eliminate the overall gender gap and approximately 300 years to achieve gender equality[7]. In the Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum in 2023, China ranks 107th out of 146 countries [8]. Considering these statistics, how many more years will it take to eliminate the overall gender gap?"
How many more years will it take to eliminate the overall gender gap?
This question resonates loudly in silence with the public.