I just finished reading Lisa See's Sunflower and the Secret Fan, which is a superb book. That's what brought me to look up foot binding. I grew up in the Philippines, which has a large Chinese population. I remembered seeing many Chinese women (in the 50's and 60's) with bound feet. Walking looks very painful. I cannot wrap my mind to thinking that lotus feet is sexy.
As many as 3 girls died from every 10 who had bound feet they would die from infections,blood poisoning gangrene lack blood flow It was a nasty painful thing and the foot smelled rotten.Poor girls
men rarely saw the horror under their tiny shoes and slippers..feet that look like hooves and stink not aplealing, thats why they never went feet naked!
@BishtrainerTai16 She's not pretending. She's probably in her early 80s, and no longer binds her feet. However, she wears special hand-sewn shoes, to accommodate her small feet; notice that she cannot bend her feet as she walks.
ugh. The very idea of it gives me shivers of disgust - just like genital mutilation, anorexia etc. Can't deny that I find a high-heeled shoe sexy (on a woman, that is!), but that's a relatively low pain:appeal ratio.
@papercutpictures agree wt everything u said xcept - high heels r usually very comfortable :) we in the west don't suffer physically f beauty like some other cultures. our suffering is emotional e.g size zero, perfect 10 etc etc. it's still stupid tho.
@papercutpictures Have you ever worn high heels? Yes, they hurt a lot. It might not be as extreme as footbinding, but it still hobbles a woman's capacity to be free. Its sick.
@Sublue Not all women feel that way. I am lucky enough to be with a woman who enjoys wearing high heels. I think "hobbles a woman's capacity to be free" is a very extreme and generalised view, since it's a personal choice 99.9% of the time. Wearing them IS an excercise in freedom, as much as wearing these boots is for me. It feels great to take them off at the end of the day, but they are appropriate for my job and I feel confident meeting people in them. I'm sure most women would agree.
@papercutpictures Wow. First, today, I find out how (some of) the Japanese find pigeon-toed standing and walking is cute, remembered how wearing high heels are uncomfortable but is universally acceptable fashion (to make the calves look sexier), and I remember about the Chinese foot binding. I find this to be an encouraged deformity that should end.
Wow. I've been reading Lisa Sees books and was curious about what this looked like but I am surprised. I imagined the hip swaying to be much more exaggerated. I heard that most women would bend their knees to take pressure off the front of their feet. Maybe it is different because this women is elderly.
I'm reading the book Sun Flower and The Secret Fan, and I wanted to learn more about foot binding as well. I love Ancient China and am in love with books about it. Would you recommend any other books by her?
Well, someone should tell her you're s'posed to sit in the chair and someone _else_ pushes it. Where's the cake?
asdfasdfasdfasfasdfq 1 day ago
@Darienjohnsen
I just finished reading Lisa See's Sunflower and the Secret Fan, which is a superb book. That's what brought me to look up foot binding. I grew up in the Philippines, which has a large Chinese population. I remembered seeing many Chinese women (in the 50's and 60's) with bound feet. Walking looks very painful. I cannot wrap my mind to thinking that lotus feet is sexy.
quiltsister 1 week ago
this is OUTRAGEOUS!
1988alexandraioana 1 month ago
As many as 3 girls died from every 10 who had bound feet they would die from infections,blood poisoning gangrene lack blood flow It was a nasty painful thing and the foot smelled rotten.Poor girls
jozsefkacsa 2 months ago
men rarely saw the horror under their tiny shoes and slippers..feet that look like hooves and stink not aplealing, thats why they never went feet naked!
BedazzleGlitterGal 7 months ago 2
So sad to see...I have put a video up on this subject...
xyzllii 1 year ago
She doesnt look that old, and her feet look normal. Is this how they really walked, or someone pretending?
BishtrainerTai16 1 year ago
@BishtrainerTai16 She's not pretending. She's probably in her early 80s, and no longer binds her feet. However, she wears special hand-sewn shoes, to accommodate her small feet; notice that she cannot bend her feet as she walks.
jelybi 1 year ago 7
ugh. The very idea of it gives me shivers of disgust - just like genital mutilation, anorexia etc. Can't deny that I find a high-heeled shoe sexy (on a woman, that is!), but that's a relatively low pain:appeal ratio.
papercutpictures 1 year ago 3
@papercutpictures agree wt everything u said xcept - high heels r usually very comfortable :) we in the west don't suffer physically f beauty like some other cultures. our suffering is emotional e.g size zero, perfect 10 etc etc. it's still stupid tho.
marissasue1 11 months ago
@papercutpictures Have you ever worn high heels? Yes, they hurt a lot. It might not be as extreme as footbinding, but it still hobbles a woman's capacity to be free. Its sick.
Sublue 9 months ago 2
@Sublue Not all women feel that way. I am lucky enough to be with a woman who enjoys wearing high heels. I think "hobbles a woman's capacity to be free" is a very extreme and generalised view, since it's a personal choice 99.9% of the time. Wearing them IS an excercise in freedom, as much as wearing these boots is for me. It feels great to take them off at the end of the day, but they are appropriate for my job and I feel confident meeting people in them. I'm sure most women would agree.
papercutpictures 9 months ago
@papercutpictures Keep telling yourself that.
Sublue 9 months ago
@Sublue wow, what an argument!
papercutpictures 9 months ago
@papercutpictures I'm not arguing. But thanks!
Sublue 6 months ago
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@Sublue
I can barely even walk in 2-inch heels.
Bluebelle9289 8 months ago
@papercutpictures Wow. First, today, I find out how (some of) the Japanese find pigeon-toed standing and walking is cute, remembered how wearing high heels are uncomfortable but is universally acceptable fashion (to make the calves look sexier), and I remember about the Chinese foot binding. I find this to be an encouraged deformity that should end.
Un1234l 8 months ago
@Un1234l High heels also make the butt look better :)
DelinquentBilly 4 months ago
Wow. I've been reading Lisa Sees books and was curious about what this looked like but I am surprised. I imagined the hip swaying to be much more exaggerated. I heard that most women would bend their knees to take pressure off the front of their feet. Maybe it is different because this women is elderly.
tweekee1 1 year ago 3
@tweekee1 Omg, same!
I'm reading the book Sun Flower and The Secret Fan, and I wanted to learn more about foot binding as well. I love Ancient China and am in love with books about it. Would you recommend any other books by her?
Darienjohnsen 1 year ago 5
@Darienjohnsen I'm reading that right now too :)
BridieGranger 9 months ago
@Darienjohnsen The name of the book is Snowflower and The Secret Fan.
I was curious also, she described it well.
maxandme56 4 months ago
@Darienjohnsen I'm reading her "Shanghai Girls" right now and I've just finished "Peony in Love."
waivedwench 2 days ago