cultural anthropology

FOOT BINDING IN CHINA

Although seemingly incomprehensible for the average Western person today , foot binding was a custom which lasted for more than 1 ,000 years in China . In fact , foot binding was a particular practice reserved for the elite and was reputedly a sign of social status , hierarchy and wealth . Extreme deformity , by way of bound feet , was practiced for its aesthetic appeal and as a symbol of social status . Starting in about the 10th century A .D , foot binding gained currency in China and was practiced exclusively among women with

an eye to aesthetic beauty Seeking to address the mysteries behind the foot binding phenomenon and make sense of a custom which seems appears so foreign to the average Western eye , this essay will conduct a thorough analysis of foot binding in China through an exploration of Fred C . Blake 's Foot-Binding in Neo-Confucian China and the Appropriation of Female Labor , published in the scholarly journal Signs in 2009 . We will begin with an analysis of the history of foot binding in China , explore the practice of foot binding and explain how it is accomplished , as explained in the article We will delve into the reasons why foot binding became such a prominent feature in China , conclude with a summary of Blake 's research and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the article . Accordingly , we will analyze the contribution to the field of anthropology

History

Foot binding is a practice which is culturally specific and unique to the...