Mixed Messages (A Tiny Foot)

Weiner draws inspiration from women's issues, specifically the role of homemakers. This piece was xeroxed from an original silver gelatin photograph, originally containing text that concern the critical issues women face, such as feet binding, unfair division of domestic labor, rape, abuse, the medical issues that arise from childbirth, widowhood, and social isolation. The specific text in this piece about the footbinding tradition originating from china. The title references this, as small or tiny feet was a way for men to exert pain and control over their wives as foot binding was painful and disfiguring, and the pain kept women isolated at home. Women were told that this tradition is a public display of the couples honor and financial status as the wife stayed at home and did so because she was not needed to work to make ends meet. there is also a sexual implication made with small feet. The sexual effect combined with small feet and obedience is a part of a global issue where the features of prepubescent girls are desired by men and they expect their wife to fulfill this.