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The practice is said to have originated in the imitation of the small-footed [[concubine]] Yao Niang of [[Sung Dynasty]] prince Li Yu. Its adoption as a fashion by tens of millions of Chinese women over several centuries, probably represents the most widespread [[fetish]] in human history. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8966942]

The practice is said to have originated in the imitation of the small-footed [[concubine]] Yao Niang of [[Sung Dynasty]] prince Li Yu. Its adoption as a fashion by tens of millions of Chinese women over several centuries, probably represents the most widespread [[fetish]] in human history. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8966942]

Additionally, the practise had a sinister oppressive purpose. Footbinding was a practice that originated to prevent women from running away from an oppressive home-life and give husbands greater control over their wives. Over time, foot-binding developed into a traditional mark of beauty, and the unbound foot became a social [[stigma]]--the sign of a peasant woman who was needed to work the fields. However idealized foot-binding has become over the years, the sentiment behind it has remained the same: a nasty symbol towards the repression of women, the mutilation they face as part of traditional beauty regimines, and a subconcious effort to keep them "in their place," at home, with the children.  

Additionally, the practice had a sinister oppressive purpose. Footbinding was a practice that originated to prevent women from running away from an oppressive home-life and give husbands greater control over their wives. Over time, foot-binding developed into a traditional mark of beauty, and the unbound foot became a social [[stigma]]--the sign of a peasant woman who was needed to work the fields. However idealized foot-binding has become over the years, the sentiment behind it has remained the same: a nasty symbol towards the repression of women, the mutilation they face as part of traditional beauty regimines, and a subconcious effort to keep them "in their place," at home, with the children.  

Following the 1911 revolution of [[Sun Yixian|Sun Yat-Sen]], the practise died out in all but remote rural areas, and only a small number of women with bound feet survive today.

Following the 1911 revolution of [[Sun Yixian|Sun Yat-Sen]], the practise died out in all but remote rural areas, and only a small number of women with bound feet survive today.

[[Category:China]]

[[Category:China]]