Bound for Beauty
In Steinfeld’s interview with Jo Farrell, the article states that,
“They were proud of what they achieved,” Farrell says.
“Most will show the size of their feet and explain that they used to be smaller. They were the most beautiful in their village because of their small feet.”
Foot binding – a widespread custom in China that lasted for more than a 1,000 years – involved incredibly tight cloth bindings being applied to the feet of young girls to stifle growth. Women with small feet were deemed beautiful and could marry better if they had “lotus feet”, as they were often referred to. (Steinfeld)
For numerous centuries, many new practices have been performed in hopes of achieving beauty. Some of these practices have been successful and others have people questioning why they even existed. One of the many misunderstood practices in China happens to be foot binding. Many people suppose that it is a disgusting custom; however, when it was practiced, it had a much deeper meaning. Chinese footbinding
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happened to be an operation used for attaining overall attractiveness. There is so much more to comprehend over the history of Chinese foot binding, how the process was completed, why it was done and used, and how it affected the women. There are various myths and theories regarding how foot binding in China was first put into practice. According to Wang Ping, “Apart from various sayings and a few records scattered here and there in travelogues, no one knows exactly who started the practice of binding…” (Wang). The Chinese foot binding process is mostly said to start around the tenth century when wealthy women imitated the emperor’s mistress (Pendergast, Pendergast, and Hermsen). Another common theory is that “emperor Li Yu of the Southern Tang dynasty in China ordered one of his slave girls to bind her feet in silk ribbons and dance on a platform littered with golden lotus flowers” (“Chinese Foot Binding”). Although this is the most common theory, it is also the least likely. Women with bound feet could hardly walk, much less dance. While this statement is similar to the first theory, there are the changes of how it started. Yet another theory states that women’s feet were bound against their will to ensure that they could be easily controlled and make sure they could not escape the families they were unwillingly married into (Internet Scientific Publications). In addition to the speculations, it is supposed that foot binding was possibly adopted from Islamic tribes, or that it was possibly inspired by Tang dancing girls (Hahn). Still, nobody knows the true origin of the process, and few women with bound feet are still alive today. A story in China describes a mother speaking to her daughter about the importance of her foot size. The mother says that bound feet ensure security and marrying “well”. She explains to her daughter that the smaller her daughter’s feet, the more desirable she will seem to potential husbands (Internet Scientific Publications). The story simply explains to its audience the importance of foot binding, and how it affected the lives of women all around China. While it is not know when foot binding was first put into practice, it is proved when it was put to an end. In 1911, Chinese foot binding was banned when Western missionaries campaigned against it (Steinfeld). However, according to Phil Coomes of BBC, “... some in rural areas continued the tradition for decades to come until the bandages were forcibly removed leaving the feet disfigured” (Coomes). Nevertheless, not many people continued the excruciating process- only the handful of people in poor, rural areas. In more recent times, a photographer, Jo Farrell, tracked down the last survivors for her project called “Living History” (Strochlic). Strochlic also stated that it was very difficult for Farrell to find these women and when she did, most of them were between eighty and a hundred years old. This shows that even when some people continued getting their feet bound, it was very long ago and not many people even decided to join in on the practice as it continued to get closer to the end. Foot binding in China has become one of the most misunderstood processes that is known. If one without knowledge of the process were to be asked about it, he or she might suggest that it is disturbing and very eccentric. While some people may still believe this, there is more about it under the surface of misconceptions. In China, small, bound feet signified all things from feminine beauty and sexuality to elegance, wealth, and luxury (Pendergast, Pendergast, and Hermsen). Also, women were required to have bound feet if they wanted to have a good marriage (Pendergast, Pendergast, Hermsen). Men did not want to marry women if they did not have small feet. Furthermore, some women even bound their own feet to make themselves proud and to fit in with their villages, especially when they saw their mothers and grandmothers with bound feet (Steinfeld). This statement goes against popular beliefs because not all Chinese women were forced into binding their feet. In short, there are countless assumptions as to why foot binding was used in China. Many people do not understand just how much getting their feet bound affected their lifestyle and how agonizingly long the process took.
Chinese girls would get their feet bound by their mothers between the ages of three and seven (Pendergast, Pendergast, and Hermsen). The first step in the process was the four smallest toes being broken and bent back to touch the bottom of the foot. Next, a ten foot long and two inch wide wet cloth was wrapped around the foot tightly which forced the the foot to become short and narrow. After that, the heel and toes were pulled closer together into a curved arc. Pendergast, Pendergast, and Hermsen also stated that the cloths were continuously applied to the girl’s feet every night for around two years to form three to four inch feet, the desired length. This intense process severely and permanently injured the women both during and after it was completed, and it would continue to haunt them throughout the years to
come. One of the biggest effects foot binding had on the Chinese women was that it was very painful. However, these women were affected individually in many different ways. For instance, bound feet made it difficult for women to walk; it made them nearly helpless, and it prevented them from leaving the house (Pendergast, Pendergast, and Hermsen). With the prevention of them leaving the house, Chinese women were put under the control of their husbands. Another problematic effect bound feet had was that it required a lot of care as it quickly led to infection. Because of that, feet were never exposed. They were covered up with perfume, socks, leggings, and lotus shoes- even while sleeping. Bound feet led women to deal with various complications that were impossible for them to get rid of. Little is generally said about the history of foot binding in China, why it was used, how the process was done, and/or the effects it had on the women. Because of that, people do not know the true meaning behind the old custom. By researching the topic, it is revealed that there is plenty to know about Chinese foot binding than what is commonly shown. Although individuals may figure that foot binding is an unconventional custom to have, it is proved to have a deeper form of significance in the eyes of the past Chinese citizens. In conclusion, Chinese foot binding happened to be a former way of expressing beauty, a way of living that the women were accustomed to, and lastly, an unbearable procedure that Chinese women had to be put through.
I will be explaining the role of women in society in Bound Feet and Western Dress. The Chinese have traditions that are generations old and are very serious in their culture. These Chinese traditions have been deeply established. In Bound feet and Western Dress, a dispute between Chinese traditions and Westernization of Chinese women begin to emerge. The women in traditional China were treated unequally and were basically looked upon as property for their husband. The women were taken in by the husband’s family and had to always obey their husband and also had to take orders from the husband’s family as well.
In her article "The body as attire," Dorothy Ko (1997) reviewed the history about foot binding in seventeenth-century China, and expressed a creative viewpoint. Foot binding began in Song Dynasty, and was just popular in upper social society. With the gradually popularization of foot binding, in the end of Song Dynasty, it became generally popular. In Qing Dynasty, foot binding was endowed deeper meaning that was termed into a tool to against Manchu rule. The author, Dorothy Ko, studied from another aspect which was women themselves to understand and explained her shifting meaning of foot binding. Dorothy Ko contends that “Chinese Elite males in the seventeenth century regarded foot binding in three ways: as an expression of Chinese wen civility,
Years later during the Ming and Ch’ing eras it became wide spread among all status levels. Footbinding is a mutilation of the feet by wrapping them up weeks upon weeks to force them into the shape of a lotus flower and keep them at a length of three inches. (p.366) “Small feet became a prestige item to such an extent that a girl without them could not achieve a good marriage arrangement and was subjected to the disrespect and taunts of the community.” (p.364). Eventually lower-class women began using binding to find wealthy husbands.
Many scholars believe his accounts of the city are exaggerated and Marco Polo even states himself “that it is not easy to even put it in writing.” (317). Furthermore his accounts of the women in China seem to be exaggerated as well as missing some information of the society: “These women are extremely accomplished in the arts of allurement, and readily adapt their conversation to all sorts of persons, insomuch that strangers who have once tasted their attractions seems to get bewitched, and are so taken with their blandishments and their fascinating ways that they never seem to get these out of their heads.” (317). While women in China experienced fewer restraints, there were still many patriarchal rules put in place that made women subordinate to men. The act of foot-binding was one such rule which placed an emphasis on “small size, frailty, and deference and served to keep women restricted to the ‘inner quarters’ (331). For reasons unknown, Marco Polo leaves this excruciating detail out of his tales completely, leaving some scholars to question whether he really did make it to
“If you are a dreamer, come in” (Silverstein 9). The opening line in Where the Sidewalk Ends, the first book in his popular trilogy, Shel Silverstein offers the reader a seat by his fire and a few tales to hear. He sets out his theme, for this book and others, of adventure, imagination and creativity. Silverstein’s style of poetry is often referred to as peculiar or unconventional. Each of his poems, though off the wall, has an underlying message or advice on life, love, school, family and many other topics. Shel Silverstein teaches his readers life lessons through his quirky and eccentric poems.
The fast foot work in both Black Bottom and in tap dancing showed the similarities of the styles of dance. Although tap dance is less about the upper body, unlike Black Bottom and dances like the Charleston, and more about the movement of the feet and sound of the taps, there were obvious similarities between Black Bottom and tap. Tap dance and Black Bottom are fairly similar, only by adding metal plates to the bottom of shoes, creating “tap shoes”, the new style of dance was born. This style of dance however, focusing on the lower body movements and the sounds the tao shoes are making when they stick across the floor, is less about the movement of the arms and upper
Traditions in Chinese culture are long-rooted and are taken very seriously from generation to generation. However, there must always be room for modern change in order for society to grow and strive across the globe. In Bound Feet and Western Dress the conflict between Chinese traditions and modern change arises. With this conflict it is important to discuss the different meanings of liberation for men and women and they way in which Chang Yu-I was able to obtain liberation throughout her life.
This was written in one of the letters given to Miss Breed by Louise Ogawa. Many young girls looked up to her and wrote her letters. This supports how she acknowledges the natural beauty instead of materialistic things. To others, it would just be another village or a view of the everyday work we live in. But she was just grateful for the fact she got to see such a magnificent view of nature.
O-lan's physical appearance showed her as a very modest woman. When Wang Lung sees her, he stares at O-lan seeing that, "plain though her face was and rough the skin upon her hands the flesh of her big body was soft and untouched . . . her body was beautiful, spare, and big boned yet rounded and soft" (26). From her physical qualities, it is clear that O-lan isn't a spoiled woman who sits around all day, but a hard worker. She is described as an ugly, flat-footed, stolid-faced woman. Many times, Wang Lung secretly wishes that O-lan didn't have such big feet. During the time of this book, women's feet were bound so they would be smaller. O-lan had big feet because they were never bound. This was another aspect of Chinese life that seemed designed to make women suffer was the practice of altering the feet of girls so they could barely walk. The Chinese custom of foot binding was meant to please men esthetically and to enhance a man's status by showing he was wealthy enough for his wife or concubine not to work.
A custom common at the time, it ensured the prevention of growth in the feet of young girls. The coveted result was one of pain and disability, however, was considered one of beauty, prestige, and social standing. Those with bound feet, or "lotus feet," were admired for their dainty feet and the beauty that was acquired through painful bindings around the feet. This is a portrayal of the status of women in society as well as the males' population's perception of women. A representation of the aristocratic hierarchy present in China, the prevalence of those with small feet were often among the wealthy and they possessed a higher position in society as a result of their husband. Due to the nature of the bindings, women would develop a careful and cautious walk composed of tiny steps. The nature of their walk asserted that women were seen as mere items of pleasure to men, as their walk did not enable them to work. This limited mobility may reflect the limitations women suffered in politics and society as they were perceived as less adept and competent as their male counterparts. As items of pleasure and service, the role of women in society may be illustrated in the tradition of foot
Also in China girls are made to bind there feet up at an early age so
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China begins with author Jung Chang’s grandmother, who was born in 1909 with the name Yu-fang. In traditional Chinese culture, for any hopes of marriage, the mother must first bind her daughter’s feet. Though a long and painful process, foot binding was considered a beautiful trait in Chinese men’s eyes. By the age of two, Yu-Fang’s feet were bounded and were referred to as “Lotus Feet”. Having one’s feet bounded during this time period, made it difficult for a woman to walk, and spent their life in pain due to the broken arch and constant bending of the toes. Her father, Yang, was determined to have his daughter’s social status...
Examples of cultural constructions can be seen throughout history in several forms such as gender, relationships, and marriage. “Cultural construction of gender emphasizes that different cultures have distinctive ideas about males and females and use these ideas to define manhood/masculinity and womanhood/femininity.” (Humanity, 239) In many cultures gender roles are a great way to gain an understanding of just how different the construction of gender can be amongst individual cultures. The video The Women’s Kingdom provides an example of an uncommon gender role, which is seen in the Wujiao Village where the Mosuo women are the last matriarchy in the country and have been around for over one thousand years. Unlike other rural Chinese villages where many girls are degraded and abandoned at birth, Mosuo woman are proud and run the households where the men simply assist in what they need. The view of gender as a cultural construct ...
The aim of this essay is to demonstrate how to apply Darwin’s Theory of Evolution to the development of high heels. This essay begins by explaining the evolution of the high heel. It will then focus on application of five characteristics of evolution.
The Chinese burial customs of the 1890s to 1930s are very different than what we see from burial customs now. There are many different, interesting things about the early 1900s Chinese burial customs:: The steps taken when a family member dies, the superstitions about burials, and the difference between our burial customs and the burial customs of the Chinese people during those times.