To Bind or Not to Bind--That is the Question
Having a wife with bound feet was a status symbol for men, and, consequently, having bound feet increased a woman's chances of marriage into a wealthier household. Women took great pride in their feet, which were considered not only beautiful but also their best and most important feature. As a child, would you have fought against having your feet bound, as Third Sister did, knowing you would be consigned to the life of a servant or a "little daughter-in-law"? As a mother, would you have chosen to bind your daughter's feet?

As a child... I would have faught to the death against having my feet bound. Just the thought of having all the bones in feet broken and having to relearn how to walk...eewwww!Personaly I would have jumped out of the window and run away. I have no problem with living off the land. As a mother, I would have probabley bound my childrens feet. It would increase thier chance of getting a sucessful husband, and it would give them a better life. They would also be much more attractive to men and be the envy of other women. Although watching my kids pain and knowing I was causing it would kill me inside, I would have to bind thier feet in order to secure thier future.

Connecting Worlds
Although the story takes place in the nineteenth century and seems very far removed from our lives --- we don't have our feet bound, we're free and mobile --- do you think we're still bound up in other ways; for instance, by career, family obligations, conventions of feminine beauty, or events beyond our control such as war, the economy, and natural disasters?

Although the Chinese women were very constricted and weren't allowed to enjoy many of the freedoms that women in the U.S. do, I also beileve they were a little bit less burdened than our women. The Chinese women had to be mothers of sons. They had to have thier feet bound. And they also had to be good wives. In the U.S. our women are allowed to have affairs, they dont have to be mothers, and they can have thier own jobs. Now that may seem like it would be easier, but if you realy think about it, its easier to sit in a room all day, give birth to a couple of kids, and be a good wife. Not only do our women have to do all that but they have to get jobs, they have to feed their own kids (insted of having an indentured servant.) and they have to Clean up after the entire family. Chinese women always have some one to follow, or get orders from, American women disrespect most athoritive figures and have little regaurd towards keeping thier families happy.

Connecting Worlds

Although the story takes place in the nineteenth century and seems very far removed from our lives --- we don't have our feet bound, we're free and mobile --- do you think we're still bound up in other ways; for instance, by career, family obligations, conventions of feminine beauty, or events beyond our control such as war, the economy, and natural disasters?

To Bind or Not to Bind--That is the Question

Having a wife with bound feet was a status symbol for men, and, consequently, having bound feet increased a woman's chances of marriage into a wealthier household. Women took great pride in their feet, which were considered not only beautiful but also their best and most important feature. As a child, would you have fought against having your feet bound, as Third Sister did, knowing you would be consigned to the life of a servant or a "little daughter-in-law"? As a mother, would you have chosen to bind your daughter's feet?