Final answer:
The binding of feet in China symbolized status and beauty, indicating socioeconomic privilege and conforming to cultural preferences for female aesthetics, while also reflecting deeper societal values such as filial piety and Confucian norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The binding of feet was a practice in China that symbolized a combination of status and beauty. Historically, women with bound feet were often seen as more desirable and the practice became an indicator of socioeconomic status within Chinese society as well as a symbol of aesthetic appeal. Only families who could afford it had the 'luxury' of having women who did not need to work in the fields, thereby enabling the practice of foot-binding. This cultural preference for small feet permeated many aspects of society and was reflected in the arts and literature of the time. However, the practice also reflected deeper societal values, including patrilineal views, filial piety, and the dominant Confucian ideology which often placed restrictive roles on women.