Kristin Scott

I’m currently reading the novel, The Binding Chair (or A Visit from the Foot Emancipation Society), by Kathryn Harrison. While the book has received a healthy dose of criticism in regards to its fragmented narrative structure, which seems to cause some readers to trip, I personally think it reflects the novel’s content-that of two women struggling to find their identities within a world that is bound (pun intended) and determined to fracture any possibility of female wholeness. Whether or not Harrison intended this, I don’t know; but it works for me.

In any case, May’s story begins in China, near the turn of the 20th century, with an elborate description of her foot binding experience. This was a common ritual at the time for female children between the ages of 4-6 years old and involves essentially breaking all the toes (except the big toe) and wrapping the foot in such a way as to bring the toes and the ball of the foot into the middle, but also to make them pointed at the end. Supposedly, the smaller and more dainty the feet, the more desirable. While Harrison’s description was superb, I still had to go look this up on the web to see for myself (see accompanying pictures) of what effect this ghastly custom had on these poor women’s feet.

You can tell that Harrison did her homework, too. Throughout the novel, we learn much more about the psychological and physical damage incurred by this horrific custom, which was thankfully banned in China in 1911 by the new Chinese Republic. Harrison, however, also provides her female characters with an abundance of fortitude and independent thinking, which was no doubt their saving grace within the story (or I am assuming will be — as I’ve not yet finished the book).

In any case, when I went to see images of foot binding, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Western women’s feet, who, when wearing high heels looks very similar to the photos above. Certainly not as grotesque, but still quite similar in terms of the resultant shape of the foot and accompanying physical problems. While high heels weren’t a requirement for women in the United States, for example, they have held a rather forceful sway over women in search of that feminine-mystique. While most of us know about the damage high heel shoes can do to women’s feet, many still wear them - and for too long. Why?!?

I’ve always been much more on the practical side, so I have never worn high heels and never will. As a result, I have great feet with fabulous arches. But if you think about these two social customs - foot binding and high heels - what, really, is the difference? Yes, they did indeed break the toes of the female children who suffered this ritual; the practice today, indeed, would be considered child abuse by most. But when teenage girls are shoving their feet into skinny little pointed shoes that squeeze their toes all together into a point and place the arch in an incredibly awkward position, it doesn’t look all that different. And the results can be very similar, as well.

Take for example all the foot problems that often come as a result, which you can read more about at “If the shoe fits.” And yet, while the practice of foot binding has been outlawed in China, we continue to encourage young women to stuff their feet into tiny little fashion statements every day that have a very similar effect!

Anyway — book is well worth reading, and I highly recommend it.