Cinderella's Sisters: A Revisionist History of Footbinding

Dorothy Ko examines the practice of footbinding in China through multiple perspectives, moving beyond simplistic narratives of female oppression. Her research draws on artifacts, texts, and images from the Song dynasty through the early twentieth century. The book reconstructs the lived experiences of women who bound their feet, exploring their roles as cultural producers and consumers rather than passive victims. Ko investigates the material culture surrounding footbinding, including shoes, patterns, and specialized tools, while documenting how the practice evolved across regions and social classes. The historical analysis traces how footbinding became a target of reform movements and nationalist agendas in modern China. Through case studies and archival evidence, Ko demonstrates the complex relationships between mothers and daughters, gender identity, and social status. This historical examination challenges Western assumptions about Chinese women's agency and offers insights into how cultural practices acquire different meanings across time and space. The work contributes to broader discussions about the body, gender roles, and the interpretation of women's history.

Readers describe this as a detailed academic examination that challenges common Western narratives about footbinding in China. Many note it provides complex historical context and brings forward Chinese women's voices and perspectives. Likes: - Thorough research and extensive use of primary sources - Challenges simplistic victim/oppressor narratives - Includes material culture analysis of shoes and binding practices - Highlights women's agency and craft skills Dislikes: - Dense academic writing style difficult for general readers - Some find the theoretical framework overly complex - Several note it can be repetitive - High price point for the hardcover One reader called it "fascinating but exhausting to read," while another praised how it "dismantles orientalist assumptions." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (56 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (3 ratings) The book appears more frequently assigned in university courses than read for general interest.

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🌟 Dorothy Ko spent over a decade researching footbinding, including examining hundreds of tiny shoes preserved in museums across Asia and the West 🌟 Contrary to popular belief, footbinding wasn't simply imposed by men on women - it was often passed down from mother to daughter as a form of cultural capital and female bonding 🌟 The smallest bound feet were called "golden lotuses" and ideally measured just 3 inches in length 🌟 The book challenges the notion that footbinding was purely about male desire, revealing how it was also tied to women's artistry, with elaborate embroidery and designs on the tiny shoes 🌟 Footbinding wasn't uniformly practiced across China - it varied significantly by region, class, and time period, with some areas never adopting the practice at all