|
Ideal for: Very obedient, demure Japanese girls.
Job specifications: You are the epitome of entertainment, elegance and
style. You are expected to master the complexities of the tea ceremony, the
science of flipping the fan, and the art of walking around the city in a
tight kimono, wooden clogs, and socks. Your admirers visit you in the geisha
house, where under the strict supervision of your employers, you must always
be pleasant even if they are insufferable bores.
Drawbacks: All of this makes you feel like a human mannequin, with just as
much freedom. You are not allowed to have your own opinion, you are not
allowed to date, you are not allowed to even fall in love. By the time you
reach 40, all your clients have turned their attentions to the younger
girls—leaving you wrinkled, forgotten, and out of a career. With enough
political connections you can open your own geisha house. More likely, you
will die alone.
Perks: at the peak of your career, you are considered a goddess. It’s
almost enough to make up for the fact that you will never be able to wear
comfortable clothes during your entire life.
|
