Three theories of purpose of foot binding
There are three theories regarding the purpose of foot binding if we consider about women social status.
- Women who had their feet bound were less independent and more able to be controlled. In Chinese society, it is said that women are ruled by their fathers, then their husbands and finally, by their sons. This was a way to make women could not escape from the control because the pain would debilitating to allow them the freedom to be free.
- The smaller the women's feet, the more desirable she would be in marriage. Some people during that time would think the size of the foot was more important than the attractiveness of the face in the eyes of possible husband. The family needed the security of a daughter marrying "well" to ensure the families place in society. So binding foot was the way for gaining this security.
- Foot binding was a way to show status. If a family had a daughter whose foot was bounded, then they were perceived by their neighbors to be able to have a capable and working member of their family not work. This implied success for the family.
Foot binding changes women's entire life
Binding foot could change women's entire life. Having a daughter with bound feet conferred many potential benefits both on the girl and her family, transforming the biological disadvantage of being born female into a distinct social advantage by increasing her opportunities for making a lucrative marriage.