Close Company, Stories Of Moth :: essays research papers

Women during the time that A Visit from the Footbinder was written were willing to accept distract to gratify societys concept of beauty and to keep their position in society. Womens role in this society was one in which they lacked each sense of power and they were therefore fully dependent on men. Hence, they were willing to suffer through the excruciating torture of crushing their toes under the cant of their declare bodies in order to make themselves desirable enough to attract a wealthy husband.The roles of men and women in this story are quite rigid, therefore allowing women elflike room to go against society. This is due in part to the economy, which does not permit much movement for neither race nor gender. Therefore, when one is born into a sort they must conform to its standards. Women are generally given more rights and freedoms if they provide a direct economic function in society, such as owning and managing shoes to produce goods. Most of the property was passe d down from father to son, though, and women had no rights. That is why the fathers had to decide on a dowry to marry off their daughters. Economically, men fulfill the important roles while women work behind the scenes, raising children and taking care of the household. These simple jobs that women perform cause them to be dependent on men, and relegate them into a subordinate position. Societys attitude of women being weak and dependent, while men are strong and in control, stems from the roles they are obligated to fulfill. Women are cut back to these roles because the idea of what a good woman or man should be becomes so ingrained into the culture. Society condemns that which is different, mainly due to fear, making it difficult for anyone to go against its belief systems. In the story, both the men and the women are really against the idea of the footbinding deep down. When asked if it will hurt, Tiger Mouse tells Pleasure Mouse that perhaps the pain is so great that ones sent iments are smashed like egg shells(Prager 50. Warm Milk, the concubine, fell in front of Pleasure Mouses door one night and said, It is my legs. They are swollen like dead horses in the mud. And as for my feet, well, theyre no longer of this earth, and then she says They cannot bear the weight of two, Pleasure Mouse, but never say I said so.