An affluent middle class and many top government officials have taken up the sport, boosting its social status and commercial appeal.

CNN: Chinese wildcard Zheng Jie captures hearts

The dirt on the feet indicated the lack of social status, the level of economic class and the level of education and lack of sophistication and intellect.

CNN: Why shoe throwing is 'incredibly offensive'

There's not much to it, but at least there's a trace of punk rebellion in the orgy of destruction visited on a comfortably middle-class suburban home -- even if the coda dubiously suggests that this could be the shortcut to social status and parental respect.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS