Splendid Slippers: A Thousand Years of an Erotic Tradition
Beverley Jackson
ISBN: 9780898159578
A well-constructed photo narrative of the history of the "lotus shoe" of Han Chinese foot-binding.
Sooo many photographs, including many of unbound feet, and an actual x-ray view of what the foot looked like after being bound into the desired "lotus" form.
In places it was obvious that the author's personal interest in the history of footbinding, and of the remaining historical lotus shoes (so many photographs of shoes) made it difficult for her to address the phenomenon from an entirely unbiased standpoint, although she does make an effort to note the most likely impact of sexist and patriarchal doctrines on a practice that in both practice and stated intent leaves women in pain and effectively hobbled for their entire older childhood and adult lives. She even compared it with FGM, which I'm sure is going to draw protests from all angles, despite both practices being tied to male sexual control of women and of women's desires.
It was interesting, seemed well-researched, and did I mention all the photographs?
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