We know China for its intricate culture, infrastructure, and cuisine, but have you ever came across an exploitative traditional practices like foot binding?
China’s Lotus Feet
In the early 10th century, young girls between the ages of four and eight had their feet bound tightly to achieve small, curved feet. The resulting shape is known as “lotus feet,” an ironic term given for its resemblance to the actual lotus flower.
Women with the tiniest feet were cherished as being from prosperous families. There were also names given in accordance with size: the three-inch feet were known as “golden lotus,” while larger feet were called “silver lotus” and “iron lotus.”
The Historical Perspective:
You may wonder how these women walked. Privileged women from royal backgrounds mostly spent their lives in domestic compounds with limited walking and were carried in sedans. But poor women led toiling lives, facing hardships due to their bound feet.
They developed an unusual gait called the “lotus gait”; the wavering motion was often considered elegant.
By the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, activists and social reformers condemned this practice and put an end to a long-standing tradition, yet some villages continued to follow it.
With growing modernization and impact, the practice slowly vanished. Now it is retained only through museum exhibits and captured photographs.
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How much of what society considers beauty standards is shaped by patriarchy? Share your thoughts.
MBH/AS