The reform movement led by K'ang Yu-wei and Liang Ch'i-ch'iao opposed foot-binding and advocated education for women, largely with the argument that only strong, intelligent mothers could produce the strong, intelligent children needed to restore the nation to its rightful place.
於是有康梁變法，倡議維新；「放足」與「女學」是其中重要主張。他們的理由多為「保種強國」，因為女人纏足，血氣不流，足疾易作，將會生出羸弱的子孫；而孩童啟蒙，始於母教，惟有知書達禮的母親，才能教出忠孝仁義的國民。