- 'Remember, Chiyo, geisha are not courtesans. And we are not wives. We sell our skills, not our bodies. We create another secret world, a place only of beauty. The very word 'geisha' means artist and to be a geisha is to be judged as a moving work of art.' Mameha, Memoirs of a Geisha.
- 'The heart dies a slow death. Shedding each hope like leaves, until one day there are none. No hopes. Nothing remains. She paints her face to hide her face, her eyes a deep water; it is not for Geisha to want, it is not for Geisha to feel; Geisha is an artist of the floating world. She dances. She sings. She entertains you - whatever you want. The rest is shadows, the rest is secret.' Sayuri, Memoirs of a Geisha.
I think this would be a really interesting path to go down in my artwork as I could portray the power of the women in this industry with portraits being supported by japanese symbols of power and caligraphy or japanese proverbs enforcing the message of power.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozOt4v2wzFE
It seems a two sided issue however I believe during the majority of it's history there was little choice for women and I believe women being in charge of women in a safe Geisha house is a far more responsible, safer and empowering option than if it were to be a man in charge.
I think this issue would also be interesting to go more into depth with because of Britain's current issues with prostitution, (although Geisha's are not prostitutes and do not live in Brothels the theme of safety is still the same), the laws seem to be ridiculous; it is illegal for more than two sex workers to have business in the same building, but not for just one; even though this is far more unsafe for the workers as it makes them much more vulnerable. Without brothels with older experienced women running them it leaves 'pimps' (male, and who cannot directly relate to the girl which leaves the girl in a very vulnerable position) to take control of the girls or for the girls to go alone which leaves them even more incredibly vulnerable. There have been so many crimes, rapes and murders on prostitutes and as they are thought of as extremely low in our society their demands and wishes are not taken seriously. Even though I do not agree at all with their work I believe everyone needs to be safe in their work environment so the laws against brothels run by women really should be changed in order to keep the girls safe and prevent the business going underground and dangerous.
In Japan the authorities created the entertainment quarter to prevent this business going underground but to restrict it. Once geisha business started regulations and rules were set up to separate them from prostitutes and from the beginning they have been completely separate businesses. However I think creating a piece celebrating the power women had ruling this business would allow the audience to relate it back to the issue of brothel Madams and their responsibility and strict rules over the business and the girls... and if Britain has made the right decision to make this aspect illegal?
Wikipedia Source:
Female dominance in geisha society
"The biggest industry in Japan is not shipbuilding, producing cultured pearls, or manufacturing transistor radios or cameras. It is entertainment."—Boye De Mente, Some Prefer Geisha[38]
The term geisha literally translates to mean "entertainer". Some prostitutes refer to themselves as "geisha", but they are not. A geisha's sex and love life is usually distinct from her professional life. A successful geisha can entertain her male customers with music, dance, and conversation.
"Geishas are not submissive and subservient, but in fact they are some of the most financially and emotionally successful and strongest women in Japan, and traditionally have been so."—Iwasaki Mineko, Geisha, A Life[26]
Geisha learn the traditional skills of dance and instruments and hold high social status. Geisha are single women, though they may have lovers or boyfriends whom they have personally picked, who support them financially.
"There is currently no western equivalent for a geisha—they are truly the most impeccable form of Japanese art."—Kenneth Champeon, The Floating World[39]
Relationships with male guests[edit]
The appeal of a high-ranking geisha to her typical male guest has historically been very different from that of his wife. The ideal geisha showed her skill, while the ideal wife was modest. The ideal geisha seemed carefree, the ideal wife somber and responsible. Geisha do sometimes marry their clients but they must then retire; there can never be a married geisha.
Geisha may gracefully flirt with their (often infatuated) guests,[40] but they will always remain in control of the hospitality. Over their years of apprenticeship they learn to adapt to different situations and personalities, mastering the art of the hostess.
Matriarchal society[edit]
Women in the geisha society are some of the most successful businesswomen in Japan. In the geisha society, women run everything. Without the impeccable business skills of the female teahouse owners, the world of geisha would cease to exist. The teahouse owners are entrepreneurs, whose service to the geisha is highly necessary for the society to run smoothly. Infrequently, men take contingent positions such as hair stylists,[40] dressers (dressing a maiko requires considerable strength) and accountants,[18] but men have a limited role in geisha society.
The geisha system was founded, actually, to promote the independence and economic self-sufficiency of women. And that was its stated purpose, and it actually accomplished that quite admirably in Japanese society, where there were very few routes for women to achieve that sort of independence.—Mineko Iwasaki (reportedly the most successful geisha of all time) in interview, Boston Phoenix[41]
The majority of women were wives who did not work outside of their familial duties. Becoming a geisha was a way for women to support themselves without becoming a wife. Thus, geisha women live in a strictly matriarchal society. Women dominate. Women run the geisha houses, they are teachers, they run the teahouses, they recruit aspiring geisha, and they keep track of geishas' finances. The only major role men play in geisha society is that of guest, though women sometimes take that role as well.[40]
Historically, Japanese feminists have seen geisha as exploited women but some modern geisha see themselves as liberated feminists.[42] "We find our own way, without doing family responsibilities. Isn't that what feminists are?".[18] These women leave their families at a young age to immerse themselves in their art. Some believe that since men can make a life for themselves, always being in control, why can't women? They "have grown adept at using their silken charms to wind their men around their little fingers... [to] manipulate the dumb, unsuspecting male of the species... to make a man think that he is the one who has the brilliant ideas".[43] Not all geisha identify themselves with feminism, and there is a concern that the geisha tradition holds back progress for Japanese women.[40]
Modern geisha[edit]
Modern geisha still live in traditional geisha houses called okiya in areas called hanamachi (花街 "flower towns"), particularly during their apprenticeship. Many experienced geisha are successful enough to choose to live independently. The elegant, high-culture world that geisha are a part of is called karyūkai (花柳界 "the flower and willow world").
Before the twentieth century, geisha training began when a girl was around the age of four. Now, girls usually go to school until they are teenagers and then make the personal decision to train to become a geisha. Young women who wish to become geisha now most often begin their training after completing middle school, high school, or even college. Many women begin their careers in adulthood.[44]
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