November 30, 2005

Prof: Despite movie magic, life of a geisha is no fairy tale

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Even though "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a romantic and entertaining story, a Purdue University history professor says viewers shouldn't rely on the film or book for an accurate view of modern Japanese women.

"Memoirs of a Geisha," which opens Dec. 16 in limited release and on Dec. 23 nationally, follows the life of a Japanese girl sold by her poor family to a geisha house in 1929. Geisha were Japanese girls trained to serve as sexual companions to men.

"People often enjoy watching movies and hearing stories about the prostitute with the golden heart but, in reality, it's a terrible life and there are dangers when we romanticize it," says Sally Hastings, an associate professor of history and chair of Asian studies who studies modern Japan and women's issues. "This story glamorizes the life of a geisha with beautiful clothes and jewels and a happy ending that few geisha ever experienced. In reality, prostitution is damaging to women and constrains their freedom."

Hastings says viewers need to remember that the movie is about the lives of women in the early 20th century, and that the sale of Japanese girls to geisha houses is part of a bygone era.

"Prostitution is no longer legal in Japan but, as anywhere, women are still exploited for their bodies," she says. "The Japanese women's movement is very active in protesting against this exploitation, especially the prostitution of women from poorer countries, such as Thailand and the Philippines. And some Japanese women, by choice, seek the life of a geisha or work as a bar hostess, in which they may be expected to flirt with customers."

Hastings also can talk about the role of Japanese women in the country's work force and the country's economy going back to the times of the geisha, as well as the increasing number of working women in Japan's professional work force.

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Sally Hastings, (765) 494-4150, sahnolte@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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