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CULTURAL SOCIETY: “MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA”
By Ariane Coleman
American Intercontinental University
September 04, 2011

CULTURAL SOCIETY: “MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA” America has been considered as the “melting pot” since the beginning of civilization. Consequently, varying styles, theories, cultures and norms of these people within the melting pot have made it difficult for Americans to have norms that are entirely independent of any one cultural influence. Although some other ethnocentric cultures view “westerners” as a loose and uncouth nation, I must admit that a look into the Japanese geisha practices raised both of my eyebrows.
“Geisha literally is a “performing artist.” In Japanese, “gei” means art and “sha” means people or person.” (Missouri Botanical Garden, 2011) A performing artist in western culture depicts MJ, Elton John, and some of the greats from American pop culture. Conversely, this is not the circumstance in the case of geisha. Regardless of the sociological perspective we can conclude the same things: Norms are not to be violated in spite of the culture. If they are defiled then there are consequences. However, such consequences that I deem appropriate are irrelevant due to the extreme expectations that society places on women in these positions .
Let us first consider the primary institutions involved in the lives of geisha women.
In Memoirs of a Geisha the Japanese cultures’ norm is drastically different from the “ideal” American’s norm. There is no worry about bringing shame to the family name. A small girl is instead sold to a whore house to relieve financial stress from her natural family. Only the luckiest of girls are sold to a geisha house (an Okiya). There she must work as a maid, preparing herself to apprentice to be a reputable young woman for hire. The religious institution is deferred, and inevitable wrath from “god” is

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