Discover the hidden purpose of footbinding in Sichuan. Hill Gates’ groundbreaking research, based on extensive fieldwork and oral histories, argues that this complex practice was primarily a powerful tool for disciplining young girls into lives of unremitting labor, rather than merely a matter of beauty or status. Explore the deep societal motivations and the crucial role of women’s labor in China’s final pre-industrial era. This seminal work is indispensable for students and academics in Chinese history, social anthropology, and gender studies seeking nuanced perspectives on cultural practices and labor systems.