The Painful Beauty Standard of China
“The Lotus Feet”
For almost a millennium, the single fundamental element of Chinese beauty standards remained the same; small, perfect arching feet with toes curling inward. These feet were seen as the ultimate beauty symbol to the Chinese as they were said to resemble a lotus flower. What started as a desire for small feet evolved into a millennium of cultural and societal oppression for the women of China. This is the history behind foot binding.
History of Foot Binding
Foot binding was first popularized during the 10th century Song Dynasty, by concubines who danced with small and narrow-ended shoes that bought the favor of the emperor. To fit into small shoes, the concubines would bind their feet to make their feet as small as possible. This practice spread to the public like a wild fire; foot binding was first mimicked by upper class mistresses, which gave the public the impression that small feet were a status symbol for the upper class.
By the 12th century, foot binding was so prevalent that it was seen as an essential for women to get married. What started as a trend for the upper class was quickly mimicked by the rest of the public. It was to the point where…
