07/19/2023
This photograph taken in the 1890s captures a Chinese woman who had her feet bound since childhood. Footbinding was a traditional Chinese practice involving the breaking and tight binding of young girls' feet to alter their shape and size. The resulting modified feet were referred to as "lotus feet," while the shoes designed for these feet were called "lotus shoes." In ancient China, having bound feet was regarded as a symbol of social status and feminine beauty. However, footbinding inflicted great pain, restricted women's mobility, and led to lifelong disabilities. It was not until the early 20th century that the practice began to decline due to anti-footbinding campaigns. Wealthier urban women abandoned footbinding earlier than their less privileged counterparts in rural areas. As of 2007, only a few elderly Chinese women who had experienced footbinding were still alive.
