NYU Shanghai Celebrates International Women’s Day

The first celebrations of Women’s Day in the early 1900s were to promote female solidarity. More than a century later, while the fight for gender equality has made leaps and bounds, the importance of a day to celebrate women’s accomplishments while continuing the struggle for women’s rights remains as relevant as ever. Today, International Women’s Day is celebrated in diverse ways around the globe and has even been enshrined as a national holiday in many countries, including China. 

This year’s International Women’s Day is centered around the theme of “Inspire Inclusion,” and NYU Shanghai’s lineup of events does just that, with a number of talks and activities on campus highlighting the crossroads between gender and academia, physical and mental health, literature, and film. 

On Thursday afternoon, NYU Shanghai Reads organized a fascinating panel discussion on author Chi Hui’s short story “The Woman Carrying the Corpse,” featured in the NYU Shanghai Reads’ 2024 selection The Way Spring Arrives, an anthology of science fiction short stories by women and non-binary writers. The story describes a woman walking along bearing a heavy corpse, and the reactions of the people she encounters along the way. Panel moderator Cao Yijia ’26, who is president of the NYU Shanghai Literature Club and chair of the Women in Computing subcommittee, said she and the other organizers chose the work because “everyone can find the experience of themselves or their friends in this story.” 

_{Panelists (from left to right) Sun Zhuhui '26, Claudia Kosser and Jiang Hua}

The panel brought together diverse perspectives, including Claudia Kosser, Partner and Head of FGS Global Shanghai Office; NYU Shanghai Director of University Communications Jiang Hua; and Sun Zhuhui ’26, a student writer. The panel raised questions about the imagery raised in the story, as well as discussed their own experiences facing challenges, and navigating cultural divides. EAP Senior Lecturer and Faculty Chair of the NYU Shanghai Reads Program Sarah Warfield said, “It's significant for us to highlight this work, exploring themes like identity, sacrifice, and loyalty — stuff that women deal with all the time.” 

_{Nagyeong (Helen) Sin ’26 and Shauna Stewart ’25 participated in events throughout the week promoting Heartspace.}

More Women’s Day events await today. Organized by student organizations TEDxNYUShanghai and Women at Work, Heartspace is a multi-faceted event open to the entire community, encouraging each of us to celebrate our inner strength. TEDxNYUShanghai student leaders Adriana Giménez ’26 and Makayla Hsieh ’26 said a number of fun activities will be set up at stations lining the quad and participants can collect stamps from each station for a chance to win fun prizes. Participants will be invited to “pop their insecurities” using darts and balloons, write affirmations, create “self love snippets,” and compliment each other. Giménez and Hsieh said they wanted to organize an event “where we shine as individuals in a world that frequently tries to dim our light.” 

“Heartspace is kind of setting aside some of the roles and pressures and burdens [associated with gender] and just embracing your true self,” explained Irene Lu ’24, who is president of Women at Work. “Taking a step back and just enjoying the moment is also important,” she said. 

The organizers have also invited digital influencer and Adjunct Professor of IMB Phoebe Ba to give a talk to discuss the impact of social media on feelings of self worth in this digital age. “We want to promote that even though there are aspects of yourself that you may not be in love with, it’s important to be the most authentic person that you can be,” said Lu. 

_{Lola Woetzel has been based in China with McKinsey since 1985.} 

On Friday afternoon, Queer and Ally Club will host Lola Woetzel, senior partner at McKinsey Global Institute’s Shanghai office, to speak on both her professional experience, as well as on her personal experience of coming out as transgender in the US and in China. At McKinsey, Woetzel leads research on China, Asia, and global economic and business trends and helps cities and regions create sustainable growth. Queer and Ally Club's Ari Harris ’27 says the event should be a great opportunity to learn about Woetzel’s pivotal role as a China expert as well as her personal story. “We’re looking forward to hearing her share her firsthand accounts of navigating both US and Chinese landscapes and her inspiring cross-cultural journey as a transgender individual,” he said.

_{Photo still from Hidden Letters. Photo credit: Feng Tiebing}

Also on Friday afternoon, there will also be a screening of Hidden Letters, a documentary film about Nushu, a secret written script developed by Yao ethnicity women in Hunan Province over a period of thousands of years. The film follows two women as they examine Nushu’s history and how it has been commodified in the present day, while finding their identity as modern Chinese women. Student organizer Li Lanxin ’24 said that the film “provides a critical lens to look at Nushu, Chinese nationalism, and feminism.” The film, they said, brings to light many questions about how feminism can be reinterpreted in different contexts. “There definitely needs more critical examination of why we want to reevaluate these scripts.” Assistant Professor Faculty Fellow of Global China Studies Mengdie Zhao and GCS research associate Sharon Zhang ’21 will lead the post-film discussion.  

_{Forty people attended the women’s health talk given by Dr. Yan.} 

Women’s Day also offers an opportunity to prioritize our physical health. On Thursday the Center for Student Health offered a talk on women’s health. Dr. Yan Siyu covered topics of well being, menstrual cycles, contraception, and STDs. Dr. Yan said giving the talk was important “to raise awareness of women’s well being, both physically and mentally. As females, we need to know how to look after ourselves and when to seek help if needed."

Throughout the week leading up to Women’s Day, the Department of Human Resources offered a number of health-related activities for faculty and staff, including baduanjin, jiu jitsu, yoga, stretching and meditation.  “The activities not only foster physical fitness but also provide opportunities for women to connect, share experiences, and support each other in their journey towards holistic wellness,” said HR Director Guo Wei. “Let's celebrate the strength, resilience, and importance of women in our communities while promoting a culture of self-care and empowerment.”