Joani’s Reviews > Snow Flower and the Secret Fan > Status Update

Once again, I am reminded of the price women paid to be considered "worthy" or attractive. The Chinese tradition of foot binding was not only considered to be highly attractive, but helped to ensure a women's chastity (women were unable to walk very far) and kept them out of politics and other arenas dominated by men. While painful to read, this story's focus on Chinese customs & the role women played is intriguing.