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Alice Yan

A woman in central China who was lying naked while awaiting a massage at a spa was shocked when a male therapist appeared, and she refused his services.
Following her refusal she was mocked by the manager of the spa for being “ignorant”.
The incident unfolded on December 12 at Yushiman Hi-tech Anti-ageing Centre in Changsha, Hunan province.
The customer, surnamed Huang, undressed and lay on her stomach on a bed in anticipation of a shoulder and neck massage, Fengmang News reported.

Huang said she heard a female manager come into her room to place a towel over her.
Then another person came in and Huang immediately realised it was a man.
“I was naked at that time. So I said I did not accept a man to serve me. The female manager asked me why I could not accept a male therapist. I said, why should I accept a male therapist when I was naked,” Huang was quoted as saying.
“The manager told me not to be so ignorant. She said there are also male doctors at hospitals and male therapists at foot massage parlours,” said Huang.
She threatened to call the police during the altercation.

The manager agreed to change a therapist, but Huang said she was no longer in the mood for a massage.
“What the manager said made me uncomfortable. She thought I was making a big deal out of it. She said I was ignorant and that the male worker was handsome and in his 20s,” said Huang.
“She told me I was old enough to be his mother and as a result he would not be interested in me,” she added.
Huang said that despite the fact that the male therapist did not touch her body, she still regarded it as an offence because he entered the room without her permission.
The manager said they sent a man to attend to Huang because she did not specify which gender she wanted.

Finally, the manager apologised to Huang.
“Initially I did not think I was wrong. In many spas, it is common practice that male therapists serve female customers, while females massage the males,” said the unidentified manager.
The story went viral on mainland social media.
“The spa was wrong. They should check with the customer first. Also, their attitude was unpleasant,” said one online observer.
But another person said: “My understanding is that massage centres send therapists to customers of the opposite gender. Otherwise, customers will get angry.”


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China woman shocked to find male therapist at spa appointment, is mocked for being ‘ignorant’

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The inside of the premises. The woman realised her therapist was a man when she heard his voice. Photo: Baidu

The female client had undressed and was waiting for a neck and shoulder massage. Photo: Shutterstock 

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Undressed client balks on hearing voice of masseur; spa boss tells her ‘she is old enough to be his mum’ so he would not be ‘interested’ in her


Undressed client balks on hearing voice of masseur; spa boss tells her ‘she is old enough to be his mum’ so he would not be ‘interested’ in her.


Women and gender

China woman shocked to find male therapist at spa appointment, is mocked for being ‘ignorant’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Undressed client balks on hearing voice of masseur; spa boss tells her ‘she is old enough to be his mum’ so he would not be ‘interested’ in her

Undressed client balks on hearing voice of masseur; spa boss tells her ‘she is old enough to be his mum’ so he would not be ‘interested’ in her