>>17859879
>Footbinding
A cultural norm instituted by men in a patriarchal society against women.
Footbinding was exclusively a female affair, anon. Done by mothers/grandmothers to their daughters/nieces. Men were not allowed in, men had absolutely no say in it.
Their only input was that they kicked off the female arms race when the higher society agreed that smaller feet > bigger feet.

>But why would they do it.
Same thing as eunuchs/castrates. Marriage prospects into a higher class assuming the rest of the girl is up to par for the beauty standards of the time.