The act of foot binding by Chinese women is a undeniable sign of female oppression because it is forced upon women by the surrounding culture. Women feared social isolation, and family disgrace, as well as a physical handicap that lowered women in comparison to men. .
Foot binding is grounded in Chinese culture, "Through foot binding, a plain daughter could be improved, and a pretty one made beautiful"(Gates, 177). Women with unbound feet lost much appeal to not just men, but the entire lineage since marriages were arranged by the family, therefore, hurting a women's ability to fulfill her duty to get married. Parents forced daughters to bind their feet because they believed it was actually in the best interest of the child. The parents hoped that they would be able to marry their daughter to a family of higher status, and if that failed, "all the family lost was a girl's ability to do any labor"(Gates, 178). .
Women with unbound feet were told they would "have to cut weeds for the pigs," showing how diminished women were who rejected the tradition(Gates, 177). Many times the daughters complained but, "maternal feelings of compassion were more than offset by social considerations"(Greenhalgh, 9). Women often objected to the binding but the social repercussions of having unbound feet far outweighed the decision of binding or not. Women forced daughters to bind feet because it was done to them, and they truly believed in the painful tradition as means for attracting a good family. .
Foot binding was also a way for the threat that came from a new women in the house hold to be greatly reduced. The family patriarchy is considered sacred, and foot binding was a, "superb device for physically preventing the women from disrupting its stability"(Greenhalgh, 13). .
The act of foot binding represents a lot about Chinese culture. Women are considered more as possessions. A women with bound feet could do much less then a women without, but it showed a family's wealth and prestige because they were able to care for, transport, and overall provide for someone of little use to the family.
