Adelines grandmother went against these traditions by not torturing her own daughter in such an inhumane way. This tradition is becoming more rare, but still many older women bear its pain today. Their inability to walk with ease is a symbol of submissiveness, weakness, and wealth. (It was) tightened daily for a number of years (so as to) permanently arrest the foots growth in order to achieve tiny feet so prized by Chinese men” (Yen Mah 11). Rich daughters often had their feet bound, a process by which the “four lateral toes of the foot are forced with a bandage under the sole so that only the big toe protruded. Families that are well off keep their daughters and marry them off to prominent families sons through a marriage broker (“mei-po”). Sons, especially the eldest, are given far more attention and praise.

In China, girls are seen as a possession or a “cheap commodity” (Yen Mah 100). My heart sobs at each account of Adelines tortured life, but through it all, there was a flicker of her spirit that could not be put out. Shocking mistreatment, of not only the author, but also the females in her extended family keep suspense alive throughout the book. Falling Leaves, by Adeline Yen Mah, unveils the darker side of Chinese culture through her eyes as an unwanted Chinese daughter. The Irreverence of Female Independence in ChinaĮssay Preview: The Irreverence of Female Independence in Chinaįor years, the world has been oblivious to the painful, degrading traditions toward women that take place behind the “Bamboo Curtain” of China.

Adeline yen mah 2021