China High School Students Unisex Trend on Rise in Shanghai

Unisexuality among high school students in Shanghai is on the increase, according to a survey conducted by a pupil.

The survey, conducted by Wang Yiqing, a grade two student at Luwan Senior High School, sampled more than 1,400 students over four months.

According to the survey, nearly 33 percent of high school students are showing a tendency toward unisexuality, including dressing up in the clothes of the opposite sex.

At her high school, Wang said it is common to see boys dressed like girls while girl dressed like boys.

One girl, who dresses in male clothing and has a masculine hairstyle, told China Central Television (CCTV): "I'm blocked every time I go to [the] restroom, it's a little bit strange."

Boys are also exhibiting what are traditionally considered to be more female personality traits, such as consideration and care for others, along with good interpersonal relations with boys and girls.

A student at Wang's high school said the role reversal was acceptable.

"Being unisex means tempering force with mercy, one can be decisive and tender when needed," another student added.

After noticing the trend toward unisexuality, Wang decided to conduct the survey, which won her first place in the 27th Adolescents Science and Technology Invention Contest in Shanghai.

Wang said: "Thirty-three percent of the high school students have the unisex tendency and the tendency is stronger among those having sisters or brothers than those [who are an] only child."

According to experts, unisexuality includes personality traits as well as physical appearance.

A psychology teacher at the school reportedly described the trend toward unisexuality as having the ability to appreciate different orientations.

Shen Yifei, deputy secretary general of the Social Gender Development Research Center at Fudan University, also told CCTV: "With the modernisation of society, being more focused in some aspect has become the general trend. The past categorisation of masculinity and femininity doesn't seem to accord with the current society anymore."