Do you think this is a product of the business itself, or of the innate competitiveness of human nature? What place does sisterhood have in the walls of Gion Kobu?Ħ) Do you consider the geiko tradition to be a sexist one? Although the geiko and maiko are obviously restricted and shaped completely by the expectations of their lives in the Gion, they also make their own money and are not confined to the kitchen or the home.
I found it very disorienting." Because of the overwhelming competitiveness among the geikos, it seems sometimes that the only real connections that a geiko or maiko can feel is with her customers. Do you consider the rewards that she has reaped as a famous geiko to be worth the sacrifices she made? What do you think she would say?ĥ) On page 194, Mineko states, "It's hard to imagine living in a world where everyone - your friends, your sisters, even your mother - is your rival. Why do you think Western audiences have relished this view of geisha and perpetuated it even though it's not true? Why is this view of geisha still prevalent even though more accurate information about geishas is available? What does this say about our culture? Why might the Japanese themselves have perpetuated this stereotype?Ĥ) Although Mineko makes it very clear that entering the Gion was completely her choice, did you feel it was right for such a young child to work so hard for so many hours a day? In a sense, Mineko had no childhood. For a complete listing, or to read the Guides online, visit ġ) What were your perceptions of the life of a geisha before reading this book? How does the picture that Mineko paints of the world of Gion Kobu compare to your previous impressions of "geisha girls"?Ģ) Similarly, what were your views of Japanese culture before this memoir? In what ways were these views changed, if at all, after experiencing Mineko's story?ģ) Among those unfamiliar with Japanese culture, geisha are often presumed to be well-born prostitutes. Many fine books from Washington Square Press feature Readers Club Guides. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for discussion for Mineko Iwasaki's Geisha, a Life.
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