Nathan Franco, Class of 2028
On Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, DKU faculty, staff, and students gathered for a discussion on Gender and Pain. The guest speakers were none other than Shan Wang, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Duke Kunshan University with research interests in cognitive psychology and pain related issues, and Wenting Ji, an Assistant Professor of Chinese Language at Duke Kunshan University, who researches on female authors and protagonists from late imperial/early modern (16th to 19th century) Chinese literature. Together, these two professors discussed their research on pain and gendered pain. Nineteen students and four DKU faculty members were present during the discussion.
The insightful conversation began with Professor Wang asking, “Who do you think is more resistant to pain, men or woman” to which all those present raised their hands for women. This was followed by another question, “Who experiences more pain, man or women?” to which the majority of people present raised their hands in agreeance with women experiencing more pain. Professor Wang went on to explain that it is true women experience more pain than men. She explained that while there are clear biological distinctions—such as men using glycolic cells to combat pain while women rely on P cells—these differences are biological rather than a gender gap that needs to be closed. More specifically, Professor Shan mentioned that chronic pain is scientifically proven to affect women more than men, even sharing that she herself is a chronic pain patient suffering from migraines. Professor Shan also notes that rather than trying to close the fundamental gaps between men and women, we should instead accept that there are biological differences and that these differences should be accounted for. For example, many pain medications are developed primarily based on male physiology, rendering them less effective for women. Addressing this discrepancy requires sex-specific treatments that account for biological differences rather than attempting to equalize pain responses between men and women.
On the other hand, Professor Wenting’s research examines how historical literature provides insight into women’s pain, particularly in Qing Dynasty China—using the common literary theme of foot binding, which is a painful, socially-driven practice and the best representation of gender-specific pain in ancient China. Males have never experienced foot binding (which was a choice women had to make to be attractive to potential suitors because to endure pain means you are determined, virtuous, and you are a good representation of your family) compared to the biological pain caused by menstruation. Professor Ji noted that she unexpectedly uncovered that women who bound their feet often bonded over how tiny and petite each other’s feet were rather than foot binding being a taboo topic. Instead, those with bound feet knew they were of similar status and the difficulties each other had to go through. That being said, historical texts tend to focus more on the psychological rather than physical aspects of pain, highlighting the emotional weight of such experiences. This distinction underscores how culture shapes not only the experience of pain but also how it is documented and remembered.
Professor Shan went on to explain that while men and women process pain differently, these distinctions are likely adaptive rather than problematic (because evolution doesn’t care about pain, but rather, evolution cares about survival). The heightened sensitivity to pain in women, for instance, can serve protective and caretaking functions. Additionally, cultural factors influence how pain is expressed, with men more likely to describe pain functionally, while women tend to articulate their pain in emotional and psychological terms. Professor Ji also mentions that through the use of language, there is no actual way to describe one’s pain without using metaphors, hence the emphasis on psychological pain rather than physical pain. However, religious texts tend to emphasize physical suffering more explicitly.
Both professors agreed that it is difficult to measure pain objectively. Pain scales rely on subjective self-reporting, making it difficult to standardize results. Additionally, much research is being conducted on those suffering from pain. Professor Shan suggests that studying individuals who have recovered from pain could offer valuable insights.
Professors Ji and Shan’s conversation emphasized the complexities of gendered pain, with biological, cultural, and historical factors all shaping how pain is perceived and managed.
The discussion finished up with a Q&A session.
Q: When you’re studying pain, do your results differ from those that have chronic pain compared to those with temporary pain due to injury?
A: People with chronic pain tend to build a tolerance to pain. But pain also differs based on context. But the short answer is that most of the time, it will differ.
Q: This reminds me of The Legend of Zhen Huan. In the show, many females describe their life in the forbidden city as psychologically and physically painful, but their families praise them for being selected. However, I wanted to know if there is an imbalance in the literature that portrays women’s pain.
A: Psychological pain is a topic in any piece of literature because it’s easy to write and relate to. But physical pain is a bit harder to come upon. But religious text tends to write about physical pain quite a bit.
