Why Did Shanghai Jiao Tong University Apologize for Gender Bias in Their 130th Anniversary Video?

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[Herald Economy reporter Jang Yeon-ju] A prestigious Shanghai university released a promotional video that included a line suggesting male students became engineers while female students became mothers. The clip sparked backlash for its outdated, sexist message; the university later removed the video and issued an apology.

According to Chinese outlets such as The Paper on April 3, Shanghai Jiao Tong University published a youth web-drama–style promotional video to mark its 130th anniversary.

The video intercuts shots of male students working on computers in dorm rooms with female students rehearsing dance routines. Over the footage, the caption read, “Top e-sports players became developers (engineers), and those who stood center stage became mothers.”

Users on social media criticized the caption, saying it implied men achieve professional success while women’s trajectories end in childbirth and childcare, reinforcing entrenched gender-role stereotypes.

Netizens posted comments such as, “I can’t believe a top university made a video like this,” “Do you become a mother the moment you graduate from Shanghai Jiao Tong?” and “Is the university handing out birth permits instead of diplomas?”

A female student who appeared in the video pushed back, saying she had filmed it believing it was a club-activity piece. “If male students go on to succeed professionally, why must female students—no matter how brilliant in college—ultimately become mothers?” she asked.

As criticism mounted, the university removed the offending video and issued an official apology.

The school said its content-review process was inadequate and apologized to the students featured in the video.