{"title":"Dorothy Ko","description":"\u003cp\u003eDive into the fascinating world of historical narratives with the works of \u003cem\u003eDorothy Ko\u003c\/em\u003e. Renowned for her in-depth exploration of gender and women's history in China, Dorothy Ko offers readers an intriguing glimpse into the cultural and social dynamics of the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of her acclaimed works, \u003cem\u003eCinderella's Sisters\u003c\/em\u003e, delves into the lives and contributions of women beyond the traditional stories of subservience. With meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Ko unveils how women have shaped, and have been shaped by, the intricate tapestry of Chinese history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for enthusiasts of history and military studies, Dorothy Ko's books provide a rich, educational experience that challenges conventional narratives and sheds light on often-overlooked perspectives. Explore these insightful texts to gain a deeper understanding of the complex roles women played in history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a history buff or new to the genre, Dorothy Ko's collection promises to enlighten and inspire, making it a valuable addition to any bookshelf.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"cinderellas-sisters-by-dorothy-ko-9780520253902","title":"Cinderella's Sisters","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe history of footbinding is full of contradictions and unexpected turns. The practice originated in the dance culture of China's medieval court and spread to gentry families, brothels, maid's quarters, and peasant households. Conventional views of footbinding as patriarchal oppression often neglect its complex history and the incentives of the women involved. This revisionist history, elegantly written and meticulously researched, presents a fascinating new picture of the practice from its beginnings in the tenth century to its demise in the twentieth century. Neither condemning nor defending foot-binding, Dorothy Ko debunks many myths and misconceptions about its origins, development, and eventual end, exploring in the process the entanglements of male power and female desires during the practice's thousand-year history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCinderella's Sisters\u003c\/i\u003e argues that rather than stemming from sexual perversion, men's desire for bound feet was connected to larger concerns such as cultural nostalgia, regional rivalries, and claims of male privilege. Nor were women hapless victims, the author contends. Ko describes how women—those who could afford it—bound their own and their daughters' feet to signal their high status and self-respect. Femininity, like the binding of feet, was associated with bodily labour and domestic work, and properly bound feet and beautifully made shoes both required exquisite skills and technical knowledge passed from generation to generation. Throughout her narrative, Ko deftly wields methods of social history, literary criticism, material culture studies, and the history of the body and fashion to illustrate how a practice that began as embodied lyricism—as a way to live as the poets imagined—ended up being an exercise in excess and folly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000570101996,"sku":"9780520253902","price":66.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/65968960ebfc5724cd50ea8304748117.jpg?v=1763322871"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/dorothy-ko.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}