"Ties that Bind, Ties that Break" Book Update #1

Recently I have been reading a social injustice book called "Ties That Bing, Ties That Break". It is a story focusing on the ancient Chinese tradition of rich Chinese women binding their feet so that they're feet are petite and what they would call "lady-like" back in the days. This is started when the women are still children at the age of around 3-5, it is a very painful process. But there is one girl by the name of Ailin who refuses to get her feet bind. 

At the point of the story that I am currently in, Ailin has gotten her feet bounded once but she had escaped the other times as her father decided to stand on her side and not allow her feet to be bound. She starts attending schools that were conducted by missionaries. This is considered a very irresponsible act because Chinese girls were not supposed to go to school, even so her father insists on putting her in the school because he also believes that China will soon change and start to improve, they will also start to see things in more modern ways. 

I think that Ailin's father's decision is correct because girls shouldn't be kept at home, just because they are girls they should also have the right to make their own decisions and get an education. It will harm them both mentally and physically if they are expected to follow as their ancestors, hundreds and thousands of years before them, have done. Every human has the right to speak for themselves and not be punished.

I have a great-grandmother who is still alive today and she lived in those times when young girls still had their feet bound. I didn't find out until I was around nine that she had her feet bound too. I finally understood why she always had to have a helper carry her things and hold on to her while she was walking. I understood why my parents always asked me to help her down the car and support her while she was walking. After reading this book I felt very sorry about what my great-grandmother had to go through.

My heritage being Chinese, I have many strong feelings about this. First of all, I feel very guilty about this. I think that sometimes we Chinese are too self centred and only think about our reputation, this also includes the previous generations. I think that Ailin's family, apart from her father, should have thought more about their child; if they really did care about Ailin, they would've put her opinions into thought and consider how it could affect her psychologically and physically. 

I understand that this is a very cruel and harrowing process and I thought to myself, what if I had to have my feet bound? Would I ever be able to walk normally ever again? Would I have to follow a path that my parents have planned for me and not have the freedom that I have now? I spent a lot of time thinking through these questions and felt very lucky and empathetic. I think sometimes I take many things for-granted and I don't cherish the things that I have now. I have tried walking around with my toes bent inwards and I can't even think about putting myself in their shoes. I can't imagine how awful it is wobbling around in tiny shoes and not being able to do many things myself. 

I am very thankful that I don't need to have my feet bound and that China now has a more modern way of viewing the ancient customs.