Stereotypes Throughout Japanese History

Throughout Japanese history, the geisha has become a historical shrine passed on from generation to generation. From their refined repertoire of the arts to the intellectual conversations with clients, the geisha has various qualities of integrity to be recognized in Japanese history. Behind the perfectly painted face and overly constricted kimonos are the scars of true sacrifice towards this cultural profession, but is the true perseverance of the traditional geisha fading into the shadows of modern day stereotypical cinema and media? The stereotypes surrounding the geisha have increasingly caused these women to be portrayed as cheap prostitutes or women of pleasure in Japanese society. These misconceptions became the essence of why the geisha
During the Tokugawa era, the role of the geisha changed dramatically, because the Japanese economy started to heavily depend on brothel houses; therefore, many of these geishas were forced into several year contracts to brothel houses by their families, and were exploited for their submissive nature. The change from having traditional geishas to a new breed of geishas was mainly based on the economic poverty throughout many regions of Japan. Additionally, the government wanted to provide legal, regulated institutions of courtesans for western traders and visitors. This brought up the common misconception that geishas were simply high class prostitutes. However, the two occupations were unrelated even though they both provided sexual services. Geishas were bound into contracts by their families to pay off a debt and received no pay, while prostitutes sold themselves for their own profit and did not belong to a brothel house (Stanley, 2013). At the peak of their popularity, geishas were considered the ‘darlings of Japan.’ To eat with them, or even bask in their presence, was considered to be an honor in the eyes of any Japanese citizen. But then, at the end of the Tokugawa era (mid 1800s), the middle and high class Japanese women started to fight for independence and equality and the geisha posed a threat to their campaign (Stanley, 2013).
Their liberated minds are filled with eroticism and this introduces illusions at the mention of the geisha duty to entertain men. Consequently, the geisha system is often portrayed as one analogous to the system of prostitution where a panderer commands girls in his/her control to trade sex for high monetary compensation. To assert that the geisha system is only fueled by their sex appeal is an incorrect interpretation of their motives. They are professionals entirely devoted to caring for their clients:
“If she's really a professional geisha, [she] will adjust or… change the way she entertains to suit your needs. Whether you're a quiet person who just needs -- a shoulder to cry on, whether …you want an intellectual conversation, or you just wanna get drunk and have a good time, the geisha will do her best to make you leave that night smiling... Of course, without crossing certain lines.” (Guelet,