A forensic doctor in China who has gone viral thanks to her muscular build says she works out to perform better at work and break stereotypes about women in medicine.
Yanyan, 26, is the first woman forensic pathologist to investigate sudden or suspicious deaths in a forensic science laboratory in southwestern China’s Chongqing municipality.
She has worked there for the past three years after graduating a degree in forensic medicine from Chongqing Medical University.
As an experienced forensic pathologist, she has handled more than 600 bodies.
On social media, she runs an account with 14,000 followers, on which she is a fitness fanatic.
Yanyan said she could dead lift 120kg, hold a chainsaw with one hand and carry out a craniotomy in three minutes.
She said she worked out to perform better at work.
Forensic pathologists often need to work with heavy bodies weighing up to 150kg.
As a result, women are usually discriminated against in the industry, as they are considered weak.
Those who stereotype women as “family people” also say that they are not suited to a job that requires a lot of night shifts and business trips.
Some institutions even openly limit their posts to male applicants only.
Many, regardless of their gender, said they also face discrimination from the public who saw their job as ominous.
Some said people refused to shake their hands after learning about their profession.
Yanyan said she and her husband’s family understand her job. Her husband is also keen on fitness training.
She said she ran her social media account to break public stereotypes about her profession.
Yanyan said she was calm even when she encountered her first body.
She says the value of her work lies in giving justice to the dead and their families peace.
She also planned to keep learning new technologies applied in the industry.
Yanyan added that she witnessed people who died from illnesses and accidents, and saw relatives of the dead reacting to their demise with frustration or indifference.
She said she wanted to tell people to “enjoy life” while they still can.
