Hi there! How do you like the above picture? Do you think it’s hideous? beautiful? disgusting? or maybe even cute? I can’t tell what you think about it but the feet above is the result of a process called Foot binding which started in the 10th or 11th century in Imperial China. A small foot in China then was as important as a tiny waist is today. Let me briefly give you an insight in the process [don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think] and Oh, not sure I needed to mention that it was a practice among the women not men.
It was a process that began in childhood when the girl was 5 or 6 before the arch of the foot had begun to develop. Each foot was plunged in hot water then toenail clipped as short as possible, the feet were then massaged before all the toes are broken and then held tightly against the sole of the feet with bandages which were pulled very tight. Next, her arch was strained as the foot was bent double. Each time the feet was unbound, they were usually given a nice pedicure, the nails meticulously trimmed again and ‘excess flesh’ cut off. The girls were forced to walk long distances to break their arch and the whole of this process lasted about 2 years of which once a foot has been crushed and bound, it was impossible to reverse. Why go through all of this, you may ask? well the goal was to have a 3 inch foot known as ‘golden lotus’ in order to be a desirable bride, if a girl didn’t have small feet then no one was going to marry her.
Bizzare! Inhuman! Unbelievable! you may say but how different is this than our modern day society? Do you know that this beautiful practice of foot binding which was once celebrated was later ridiculed and finally banned in the 19th century. How many times I ask you, has the society defined beauty for women? how many times has the norms and culture of our society be a standard for others? is it the tiny figure 8 waist? big breasts? large butts? Shaped eyebrows? Today we see a lot of ladies doing everything they can to meet these standards, prostituing to get funds, spending life savings on surgeries, painting their faces, depriving themselves of good food, depending on leaves and water, oh geez, how my heart breaks for them.
Yes, the society is at fault, yes, the women are at fault. When would each person come to realize that we’re perfect the way we are? When would we accept ourselves and define our own beauty? When will we stop focusing on outward appearances and work on things that matter more? When will we realize the container is useless if there’s no content? I don’t know about others but I choose to walk around with my head and shoulders high, respecting each person on the way because I’m amazing just the way I am.
P. S You should read more about foot binding, it’s quite intresting. Thanks for reading! Do well to drop your comments too.
People reacted to this story.
Show comments Hide commentsBeautiful piece.
Thanks sis
Ikr..like this thing they’re doing with the eyebrows…back then you weren’t nothing if your eyebrows weren’t on fleak….now squishy eyebrows is the new thing….I wonder why the world has to give me my own definition of what beauty is
Exactly my point
Wow… Never knew this. Truly, we are not defined by our society or surroundings. Our being is based on God’s image and likeness.
Beautiful piece. God bless you.
Thank you. Amen
A wish all ladies and girls can understand there worth, you are worth what you think you are. Thanks for this eye opening write up. God bless Converse House
Very true.. Amen
nice write up. But people feel more comfortable when they are associated with something. i believe its called trend for a reason.
Thanks… But this trends are temporary
Beautiful piece Converse House. Many believe following the trend is fun not understanding being different is the real deal..
Thanks Ayo.. Very true
I do believe we shouldn’t hold the society responsible for the bad things or the things we consider on unfair.
When Christianity was going the wrong way, Martin Luther stood up against the Catholics, resisted and he won and even till today, the whole German nation is still Lutheran. When the church was dead in France, John Calvin stood up and till date, we still have Calvinism. When there was widespread racism and White supremacy in the US, Martin Luther King also stood up against them.
A question we should ask ourselves is why would most revolution either good or bad starts with a man? Why won’t culture and society be modified by a lady? I do think the answer is that most women at least from the one I’ve seen would like to talk about their problems, challenges than rather solving them. I believe a more rationality and pragmatism trait is needed by women now. The going around talking about the problem again won’t solve a thing.
The old barbaric 10th century culture lasted thousands of years because no one stood up against it and at last, when it ended, I’m sure it was a man that put an end to that. All I’m saying is in reference to what was discussed above – women shouldn’t wait for society to dictate for them. Ladies should stop blaming the society for their circumstances. Ladies should stop depending on appreciation of beauty, innocence and love from anyone including fellow ladies. Ladies should be less emotional and more pragmatic. The list goes on and on.
We’ve seen some women who made a change in their life time and who are still doing well. We have the biblical example of Deborah and Esther. I think we should also go and read about Queen Cleopatra of Egypt – how she moved a whole capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Egypt just by convincing Julius Caesar.
And today, we still have a woman in the world affairs, the German leader, Angela Merkel who has been the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 till date. Everyone look up to Germany in face of many crisis in the world today as she represents stability. In face of the Arrogant tweeter addict US president, the rogue spy leader and president of Russia, and the power ambitious Chinese premier, Angela still handles each one as simple as it can be.
I believe there will still be many I don’t known of and there are future women world leaders. But for now, can we just reduce the amount of time we spent talking about issues related to our lives and use the spare time to solve them as simply as it cam be.
I believe issues that are related to women should be solved by women, it shouldn’t be addressed to men. That barbaric 10th century Chinese culture – no one stood up, but we’re in the 21st century, ladies should PLEASE stand up and live up to the popular compliment of “Ladies First”
Thought for today and for other days: “Man know thyself: then you shalt know the Universe and God” – Pythagoras
I see your point but I beg to differ in some areas. If you study the foot binding well, you’ll realize it was stopped by women not men. Plus, it’s not true that most revolution start with men, women have done some really great things to likes of Mary that stopped killing of twins, Pocahonta and so on. The society is also blamed because of the conscious or unconscious segregation and stigmatization of those that do not ‘meet the standards ‘ One of the last surviving woman with bound feet said it wasn’t her choice as anyone without bound feet would not get married. In today’s world, how many times have ladies been ridiculed on social media based on their looks? I also agree about ladies standing up for ourselves and I believe the ultimate solution to all this is having a sense of worth, a healthy self esteem,accepting who we are and standing up to responsibilities.
Nice piece..
Wish all ladies can see this..
The majority blindly follow these trendsetters today..
It’s sad.. I mean, I have a friend who spends hours on YouTube everyday on the “keeping up with the Kardashians” show.. Just to get the latest trends.. The society has just gotten to us so much that we’ve forgotten our own selves.. May God help us all.
Yes ,it’s quite unfortunate.
Wow!
This is mind blowing and thought provoking.
Until we are confident enough to accept ourselves the way we are, until we develop the self esteem required for us to hold our heads up high (of course with an humble heart)., until then, the society will continue to set standards and we see ourselves dancing to its tune unconsciously.
May the doors of utterance be opened unto the writer in Jesus name.
Very true,thanks. Amen