While these days women are going under the surgeon's knife to get a nose job, breast augmentation or liposuction, there was a time when young girls in China had to apply tight binding to their feet to prevent further growth.

Su Xi Rong (born 1933-) in 2008. [Photo by Jo Farrell/For chinadaily.com.cn]

British photographer Jo Farrell, who spent 10 years documenting the lives of 50 women in rural China whose feet were once bound, says that "although considered fairly barbaric, it was a tradition that enabled women to find a suitable partner. Match-makers or mother-in-laws required their son's betrothed to have bound feet as a sign that she would be a good wife (she would be subservient and without complaint)."

Here's a peek at some of the women who practiced this tradition.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)