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Ping explores Chinese women
By John Behling
Published:
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Media Credit: Kim Bucholz
Wang Ping author of "Aching for Beauty: Foot binding in China," spoke Wednesday on how America´s "tough love" can be taken a step further in China with the concept of pain equals love
Exploring the controversial subject of foot binding, author and poet Wang Ping presented "Bronze and Lotus" Wednesday in the Miller Center Auditorium.
Largely thought of "as a symbol of Chinese women's victimization," according to Ping, the concept has created bi-products that are now essential to Chinese culture.
"It's how Chinese women became strong ... the will to go through pain, determination and endurance. Other knowledge pales in comparison to the knowledge gained by the excruciating pain," Ping said.
Foot binding involves contorting, and in many cases, breaking and cracking bone and muscle structure to achieve the desired three-inch foot size.
After the feet achieve an acceptable level of contortion, they are tightly wrapped and then concealed by a colorful and ornate boot. The pain of such a process is unimaginable and, as Ping explicitly outlined the procedure, a collective cringe came over the audience.
Small feet in Chinese culture were thought of as the epitome of beauty.
"Women used it to climb the social ladder," Ping said.
Many families encouraged daughters to bind their feet so that they can find an able husband who can provide. Small feet were considered most pivotal in assessing beauty.
"Foot binding was the best insurance for finding a good marriage. People wanted to give their daughters a good pair of feet so they could marry up," Ping said.
Ping drew a connection between foot binding - the Lotus foot as it is called - and the rich tradition of Chinese female poets, which she described as "Bronze."
"They buy into it, they play the game, but they don't always follow the rules. They turn the game into their own," Ping said.
Though it mutilates, objectifies and cripples women, it liberated them as well, creating a cultural, spiritual and social outlet where strength was revered and poetry flourished, according to Ping.
"It's a female heritage, it became part of their identity," Ping said.
"Chinese foot binding is a symbol of the oppression of Chinese women, but it goes beyond that," Ping said.
The process became so ingrained into Chinese society that women continued to practice it until they were forced to stop.
Strength, endurance and poetry continue to be at the forefront of Chinese culture. Ping is a testament to the rich poetic history of Chinese women.
Now an assistant professor at Macalester College, Ping has written six books featuring poetry, short stories, as well as a novel. Upon completing her bachelor's degree at Bejing University, Ping came to the United States in 1985 and received her Ph.D in comparative literature from New York University. Since then she has explored the concept of foot binding, in addition to her study of literature. Much of Ping's work focuses on beauty simplicity.
The event was sponsored by the East Asian Studies Program, the East Asian Faculty and Staff Association and the History Department.
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