Foot binding was a practice mainly to show patriarchal dominance. For example they binded women’s feet ...
1. For beauty. Small feet where considered beautiful in men’s eyes
2. It restricted movement. The women would have a hard time moving around without help. This made it easier for men to keep their woman at home so they wouldn’t go out.
3. To show wealth. Women who had binded feet were often wealthy. Having those small feet showed others that they did now have to work.
4. Some thought it would protect their daughters. For example if a town was raided/captured and the attacker’s tried to enslave women, the women with binded feet would appear useless because they can’t walk.
ANSWER: foot binding did not spread because only the wealthy could do it. Many common women had to work in the fields.
