A lecturer at Xidian University in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, has invited the students in her female-only class to sign a pledge to refrain from pre-marital sex, receiving a mostly negative reaction from her students, as reported by China Daily.
Only two students signed the pledge, according to a student who took the optional course.
The student, who asked to remain anonymous, was not comfortable revealing whether or not she signed the pledge.
"The course was mainly about how to establish healthy concepts of relationships and marriage," said the anonymous student. "It was open only to female students."
She said the pledge also came with a promise that the students would not engage in extramarital sexual relations.
While the lecturer did not force anyone to sign, many students still did not appreciate being faced with such a pledge.
Li Yuan, who attends another university in Xi'an, said the lecturer's behavior violated the privacy of the students. She said that she would never sign anything of that sort.
However, some parents have shown their understanding of the school and the teacher.
Chen Jin, the mother of a college student, believes that it is understandable that the school wants to protect female students by strengthening moral education, especially because Xidian University is a science and technology school with more male than female students.
"Both the school and teacher have good intentions. Even though the students who made the promises may not follow through, it is a good reminder," said Chen.
Wang Changshou, head of the Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences, said that while it is necessary to strengthen moral education regarding marriage, it is not appropriate to ask students to sign a pledge.
Wang also said that it is not fair to open the class for female students only because relationships and marriage involve two people, so male students should also be educated.
"It is an obsolete concept to curtail only women's behavior, but not men's," said Wang. "It is correct to stay loyal in marriage, but sex before marriage should not be prohibited."
Sun Shan, an associate professor at Northwest University of Political Science and Law in Xi'an, said that the pledge has no legal force because expectations of loyalty only starts after a marriage is established.
"Whether a woman has had sex before marriage or not is private and protected by law, and no one has the right to know," said Sun.