Comments on: Foot Binding and Other Stupid Customs http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:43:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Freaky Frugalite » Blog Archive » English to Chinese in 10 EZ Lessons! http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/#comment-953 Freaky Frugalite » Blog Archive » English to Chinese in 10 EZ Lessons! Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:26:18 +0000 http://freakyfrugalite.com/?p=152#comment-953 [...] I love the Chinese language. Seriously. Can’t understand a word of it, but I do like it. Oh, wait– I do know a little bit! We learned a few Chinese phrases when we read about Gladys Aylward, missionary to the Mandarins. I wrote about it here. [...] [...] I love the Chinese language. Seriously. Can’t understand a word of it, but I do like it. Oh, wait– I do know a little bit! We learned a few Chinese phrases when we read about Gladys Aylward, missionary to the Mandarins. I wrote about it here. [...]

]]> By: Camille http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/#comment-313 Camille Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:28:27 +0000 http://freakyfrugalite.com/?p=152#comment-313 I saw the same post while out 'entrecarding' *smile*. My feet hurt looking at the photo. I have to agree with you that a lot of men want women that look perfect, or at least that is the message coming across to women. All those rag magazines of models that dress with less (was that a tactful way to put it??) wouldn't still be in business if men didn't get something out of them. You know what I mean? As for parents forcing it on little girls, I have seen that myself. From hair, to make-up, to clothes, to weight - you'd be surprised what you see! In a sense, with some women, 'perfection' is forced on their daughters in today's society. I'm not saying this is the 'norm', but it is definitely out there. Blessings - Camille I saw the same post while out ‘entrecarding’ *smile*.

My feet hurt looking at the photo.

I have to agree with you that a lot of men want women that look perfect, or at least that is the message coming across to women. All those rag magazines of models that dress with less (was that a tactful way to put it??) wouldn’t still be in business if men didn’t get something out of them. You know what I mean?

As for parents forcing it on little girls, I have seen that myself. From hair, to make-up, to clothes, to weight - you’d be surprised what you see! In a sense, with some women, ‘perfection’ is forced on their daughters in today’s society. I’m not saying this is the ‘norm’, but it is definitely out there.

Blessings -
Camille

]]> By: Cassy http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/#comment-309 Cassy Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:47:41 +0000 http://freakyfrugalite.com/?p=152#comment-309 Hi! You must read "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. The novel revolves around foot-binding practices in China. A must-read, difficult to put down. I love the story. Hi! You must read “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” by Lisa See. The novel revolves around foot-binding practices in China. A must-read, difficult to put down. I love the story.

]]> By: Sushi http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/#comment-274 Sushi Fri, 30 May 2008 23:43:10 +0000 http://freakyfrugalite.com/?p=152#comment-274 This is absolutely shocking! I've heard about it but never really saw what the feet could look like. Atrocious! This is absolutely shocking! I’ve heard about it but never really saw what the feet could look like. Atrocious!

]]> By: A. http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/#comment-261 A. Thu, 29 May 2008 12:37:44 +0000 http://freakyfrugalite.com/?p=152#comment-261 I have read, and I can't quite remember where, that foot-binding became so pervasive that if a girl's feet weren't bound, there was a lot less likelihood that she would marry. I once quoted the article with regard to FGM, where one of the arguments put forward for continuing the practice is that without it the girl will have little chance to marry. Whether there is quite the same pressure to look like a super woman I'm not so sure. My feeling is that it is media driven rather than anything else: women are encouraged to look a certain way in order to attract men, but men are led to believe that is what they should aspire to, ie they should have a good job with a high income, a fast or flashy car, and then they can hope to have a partner like a model. All the same, I don't think it can be considered as bad as foot-binding because foot-binding was inflicted on young girls by their parents, and the girls had little or no say in the matter. I have read, and I can’t quite remember where, that foot-binding became so pervasive that if a girl’s feet weren’t bound, there was a lot less likelihood that she would marry. I once quoted the article with regard to FGM, where one of the arguments put forward for continuing the practice is that without it the girl will have little chance to marry.

Whether there is quite the same pressure to look like a super woman I’m not so sure. My feeling is that it is media driven rather than anything else: women are encouraged to look a certain way in order to attract men, but men are led to believe that is what they should aspire to, ie they should have a good job with a high income, a fast or flashy car, and then they can hope to have a partner like a model.

All the same, I don’t think it can be considered as bad as foot-binding because foot-binding was inflicted on young girls by their parents, and the girls had little or no say in the matter.

]]> By: Rebecca http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/#comment-260 Rebecca Thu, 29 May 2008 00:32:48 +0000 http://freakyfrugalite.com/?p=152#comment-260 Hi Cromely, thanks for your interesting comment. I have to disagree with your "most men are perfectly happy with a 'normal' woman" just because all you have to do is read some of the blogs, see what magazines men are buying, and what kind of women men gawk at. Women are sensitive to these things, because she still feels a lot of pressure to please the man. Certainly it is women competing with women, but the competition is for the man. The country's rising demand for super-skinny women would dispel the idea that men just want the average gal. Not all Chinese women practiced foot-binding-- similar to today, where not every woman is starving or getting implants. But the SOCIAL pressure is definitely there and it is very pervasive. As a woman, I can tell you that the drive for a woman to look like a "super" woman is DEFINITELY there. Maybe some women who read this blog would throw in their two cents about this? Or, I could do a poll? Thanks for your comments-- it's great to hear what you think. My Bug life-- I didn't know much about the practice until I saw the post at the other blog. YUK! Hi Cromely, thanks for your interesting comment. I have to disagree with your “most men are perfectly happy with a ‘normal’ woman” just because all you have to do is read some of the blogs, see what magazines men are buying, and what kind of women men gawk at. Women are sensitive to these things, because she still feels a lot of pressure to please the man. Certainly it is women competing with women, but the competition is for the man. The country’s rising demand for super-skinny women would dispel the idea that men just want the average gal.

Not all Chinese women practiced foot-binding– similar to today, where not every woman is starving or getting implants. But the SOCIAL pressure is definitely there and it is very pervasive. As a woman, I can tell you that the drive for a woman to look like a “super” woman is DEFINITELY there. Maybe some women who read this blog would throw in their two cents about this? Or, I could do a poll?

Thanks for your comments– it’s great to hear what you think.

My Bug life– I didn’t know much about the practice until I saw the post at the other blog. YUK!

]]> By: My Bug Life http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/#comment-259 My Bug Life Thu, 29 May 2008 00:26:18 +0000 http://freakyfrugalite.com/?p=152#comment-259 I watched the horrors of footbinding on Discovery Channel few years ago....the feet looked grotesque...and I shudder at what was done to the women then. My grandma was one of the victims...but thankfully, her feet were not bound for so many years like most women so her feet were not "deformed". But I believe that was not her actual feet size..it was smaller due to the early stages of feet binding. I watched the horrors of footbinding on Discovery Channel few years ago….the feet looked grotesque…and I shudder at what was done to the women then. My grandma was one of the victims…but thankfully, her feet were not bound for so many years like most women so her feet were not “deformed”. But I believe that was not her actual feet size..it was smaller due to the early stages of feet binding.

]]> By: Cromely http://freakyfrugalite.com/foot-binding-and-other-stupid-customs/#comment-258 Cromely Thu, 29 May 2008 00:20:45 +0000 http://freakyfrugalite.com/?p=152#comment-258 I think the modern problems we face are a bit different. The uber-skinniness and the watermelons isn't demanded or forced the way foot binding was. While the media may portray that as the standard, what we actually see is far from that. The country's rising obesity rate would seem to dispell the idea that it is wide spread. What I find particularly interesting, is that these modern challenges may be male driven in the media (I'm not sure) but in reality, I don't see that drive on the ground. Anecdotally, the the intense dieting and serial plastic surgery seems to more driven by women competing with one another. Most men I've spoken to are perfectly happy with a "normal" woman; they don't expect women in actual life to be the super model standard. But it obviously is something to be aware of. I think the modern problems we face are a bit different. The uber-skinniness and the watermelons isn’t demanded or forced the way foot binding was. While the media may portray that as the standard, what we actually see is far from that. The country’s rising obesity rate would seem to dispell the idea that it is wide spread.

What I find particularly interesting, is that these modern challenges may be male driven in the media (I’m not sure) but in reality, I don’t see that drive on the ground. Anecdotally, the the intense dieting and serial plastic surgery seems to more driven by women competing with one another. Most men I’ve spoken to are perfectly happy with a “normal” woman; they don’t expect women in actual life to be the super model standard.

But it obviously is something to be aware of.

]]>