Ruth
In my newest fiction, Echoes over Stormy Sea (Book 1 in the dual-time odyssey series), I touch on the topic of bound feet in imperial China.
Back then, small, tiny feet were considered a status symbol and a mark of feminine beauty. During my research, I was horrified by the images I discovered online: deformed feet of young Chinese girls, contorted and bound to fit the cultural ideals of the time.
Foot binding was a gruesome practice, mostly among the upper class. The idea was that small feet were a symbol of beauty and status. Folks back then believed bound feet would increase a girl’s marriage prospects, especially among the wealthy. Luckily, the lower class was spared. The poor couldn’t afford to have family members incapacitated by such practices. Consequently, their girls escaped this specific form of torture.
A few articles mentioned that about 50% of girls with bound feet suffered severe disabilities, and chronic pain often plagued their lives.
Yet, as I reflect on the cultural and social constructs that perpetuated tiny feet as an unusual beauty standard, I can’t help thinking about cosmetic surgery these days and the lengths to which society pushes its members. People continue to go to extreme lengths for beauty. Movies, books, and social media feeds are filled with influencers and celebrities showcasing their “perfect” bodies, often enhanced through surgical means.
The pressures to conform remain, and it’s not just women anymore. A staggering number of men and women undergo procedures to alter their appearance. Folks go for extensive surgeries—rhinoplasties, breastwork, liposuction. The list goes on. We’re told we need to resemble those photoshopped images to be considered beautiful or successful.
Similar to foot binding, the procedures nowadays often come with lifelong consequences. Based on my biochemical knowledge, I can say without a doubt that if you go through one of those procedures, you won’t be able to avoid risks of complications, infections, and psychological impact.
Sad but true, we’re trapped in another form of cultural binding, only now it’s global and digital.
As Christians, perhaps we can strive to challenge these societal pressures by valuing inner beauty and kindness over physical appearance. Through fostering communities that embrace diversity and encourage self-acceptance, we can work toward dismantling these modern-day “bindings” that restrict genuine self-expression.
Note: Click this link to watch the book trailer https://youtu.be/Qlr8MtSJxFw.
