Bound Feet
Shaleen McDonald
Yixen Chen
History 104
October 2, 2014
Essay for Bound Feet and Western Dress: Traditions in Chinese culture are long-rooted and are taken very seriously from generation to generation. However, there must always be room for some type of modern change to occur. Modern change is needed in order for a society to grow and strive. In Bound Feet and Western Dress the conflict between Chinese traditions and modern change arises. With this conflict it is important to talk about the different meanings of liberation for men and women and the way in which Chang Yu-I was able to obtain liberation throughout her life. Liberation in China means two different things for a man and a woman because of the gender differences that are prevalent. For example, in traditional China women are treated unequally and are simply seen as a piece of property to their husband. They must obey his demands and also remain a slave to his family and traditions. As Yu-I told her niece, “You must remember this. In China, a woman is nothing.” The women feel a sense of worthlessness and live each day for the one that they are forced to marry. For a Chinese man, liberation means becoming stronger, more powerful, and of higher prestige. On the other hand, with a Chinese woman, liberation means being equal to that of a man and being able to live a life on her own terms rather than that of her husband’s. For a woman, liberation is all about being independent and being treated like she is of importance in the society. Traditionally, women are seen as being the child-bearers and that is their main role for any marriage. For example, the woman is really only seen to be useful in that she can bear children for her husband, and even at that, the husband wishes that the child could be male so that the family name and traditions may be carried on. If the child born is a female then she is seen to be of no use to their family because she will eventually become the property of her husband, his
Yixen Chen
History 104
October 2, 2014
Essay for Bound Feet and Western Dress: Traditions in Chinese culture are long-rooted and are taken very seriously from generation to generation. However, there must always be room for some type of modern change to occur. Modern change is needed in order for a society to grow and strive. In Bound Feet and Western Dress the conflict between Chinese traditions and modern change arises. With this conflict it is important to talk about the different meanings of liberation for men and women and the way in which Chang Yu-I was able to obtain liberation throughout her life. Liberation in China means two different things for a man and a woman because of the gender differences that are prevalent. For example, in traditional China women are treated unequally and are simply seen as a piece of property to their husband. They must obey his demands and also remain a slave to his family and traditions. As Yu-I told her niece, “You must remember this. In China, a woman is nothing.” The women feel a sense of worthlessness and live each day for the one that they are forced to marry. For a Chinese man, liberation means becoming stronger, more powerful, and of higher prestige. On the other hand, with a Chinese woman, liberation means being equal to that of a man and being able to live a life on her own terms rather than that of her husband’s. For a woman, liberation is all about being independent and being treated like she is of importance in the society. Traditionally, women are seen as being the child-bearers and that is their main role for any marriage. For example, the woman is really only seen to be useful in that she can bear children for her husband, and even at that, the husband wishes that the child could be male so that the family name and traditions may be carried on. If the child born is a female then she is seen to be of no use to their family because she will eventually become the property of her husband, his