Japanese women trained and employed to provide entertainment, conversation, and company, typically at upscale gatherings or restaurants.
From Japanese 'geisha,' combining 'gei' (art or talent) and 'sha' (person), literally 'person of the arts.' The term refers to their role as skilled entertainers.
Geishas are artists first—they spend years mastering instruments, dance, poetry, and conversation, but Western misunderstandings have deeply distorted their cultural reputation, making them symbols of something they never were.
Western discourse often exoticizes and sexualizes geishas, erasing their role as trained artists and entertainers. Colonial-era stereotypes persist in English despite the profession's rich cultural history in Japan.
Use 'geisha' (gender-neutral, singular form works for plural) and center their artistry, training, and cultural significance rather than appearance or exoticization.
["geisha (traditional Japanese entertainer and artist)","traditional Japanese artist"]
Geishas are highly skilled practitioners of music, dance, and conversation—professions requiring years of rigorous training. Acknowledging their expertise counters reductive Western stereotypes.
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