Foot Binding
Shahil Patel
English 4
Xu
6 May 2014
Foot Binding: The Price of Beauty Foot binding is the practice of wrapping the feet of younger girls to prevent further growth, usually tied to the Chinese culture. Around the 18th century, foot binding was viewed to be very erotic and appealing leading many women to partake in this action. After many objections and calls for reform the practice of foot binding died out. It is unfair to expect women to painfully bind their feet just to please men and that is why the Chinese restricted the practice. However, in today’s American society women are still expected to jeopardize their health in order to look good. The movement of foot binding really spread during the Song Dynasty. Foot binding usually occurred any time between the ages of four to six because anything after that and the girl’s feet would be too big. It became a wide spread practice in China due to multiple legends portraying the gracefulness of small feet. One such legend talks about the concubine of a Chinese prince and her walk that looked as if she, “skimmed over the top of golden lilies” (Chinese Foot Binding). Stories like this persuaded many women to bind their feet, as they saw it as majestic. Another reason this technique became popular is that foot binding stopped concubines and wives of rich men from running away from beatings (Chinese Foot Binding). This made it easier for husbands to be the dominant authority figure, as women were rendered useless. Although many viewed this custom as beneficial to women in ancient China, the negative aspects outweigh the good. The process of foot binding is a slow and painful one as, it involves the breaking of all ten toes. From there, “The broken toes were held tightly against the sole of the foot while the foot was then drawn down straight with the leg and the arch forcibly broken” (Wagner). The pain and anguish did not stop after the breaking of the foot, as the risk of infection was a very strong
English 4
Xu
6 May 2014
Foot Binding: The Price of Beauty Foot binding is the practice of wrapping the feet of younger girls to prevent further growth, usually tied to the Chinese culture. Around the 18th century, foot binding was viewed to be very erotic and appealing leading many women to partake in this action. After many objections and calls for reform the practice of foot binding died out. It is unfair to expect women to painfully bind their feet just to please men and that is why the Chinese restricted the practice. However, in today’s American society women are still expected to jeopardize their health in order to look good. The movement of foot binding really spread during the Song Dynasty. Foot binding usually occurred any time between the ages of four to six because anything after that and the girl’s feet would be too big. It became a wide spread practice in China due to multiple legends portraying the gracefulness of small feet. One such legend talks about the concubine of a Chinese prince and her walk that looked as if she, “skimmed over the top of golden lilies” (Chinese Foot Binding). Stories like this persuaded many women to bind their feet, as they saw it as majestic. Another reason this technique became popular is that foot binding stopped concubines and wives of rich men from running away from beatings (Chinese Foot Binding). This made it easier for husbands to be the dominant authority figure, as women were rendered useless. Although many viewed this custom as beneficial to women in ancient China, the negative aspects outweigh the good. The process of foot binding is a slow and painful one as, it involves the breaking of all ten toes. From there, “The broken toes were held tightly against the sole of the foot while the foot was then drawn down straight with the leg and the arch forcibly broken” (Wagner). The pain and anguish did not stop after the breaking of the foot, as the risk of infection was a very strong
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