There really are times

[branchandroot]

Normally, you know, I scoff at the people who respond to any variation of "you depicted people who are like me as $DISGUSTINGLY_BIGOTED_STEREOTYPE in your fic, could you not do that?" with cries of "What do you mean I can't write about this?!". Because, of course, that isn't what any sane person involved actually said, and pretending they did is a transparent buck-passing attempt for which I have only scoffing.

I do also realize that there are people who really do try to tell people they can't write about X topic or group, but, honestly, I can't consider those people with anything but scoffing either.

However.

I hereby declare that no Western steampunk fan is ever, ever again allowed to use the word "geisha" without first undergoing, and prominently displaying proof of, at least one full term of Japanese women's studies or the equivalent.


This post brought to you by a serious case of "omg, how are you related to me, can I disown you right now please" (national and fandom varieties).

Comments

[helens78]

There are not enough hearts for you for this post. Not enough hearts!

[annotated_em]

Hah! Yes, this.

[legionseagle]

I loathe and despise steampunk in its entirety whether it uses the term "gesiha" or not, but in your spirit of education of the Western steam-punk fan, may I ask that after the full term of Japanese women's studies or equivalent they then act as the fireman on the footplate of the Flying Scotsman during the entire run from London to Edinburgh*. After which, since they will by then realise the sheer effort in human labour which kept the steam age going, they may go back to believing that magically the working class all know their place in steampunk and that "there is no punk in steampunk".

OTOH, I found out the other day that a client of mine is working on a modern-day airship. I cantered around the department carolling, "How cool is that?"

* In a kimono, should they so wish.

[staranise]

How... interesting that a general outfit which was worn by a huge number of women from this foreign culture is mostly called, by Westerners, after the most exoticized and sexualized out of all of them.

[opusculus]

There is never enough facepalm when people start talking about geishas.

[aldanise]

The Master of my dorm specifically referred to my Halloween costume my freshman year as a "geisha" costume, when everything outside the yukata itself was deliberately designed to emphasize the "spends way too much time hiking through brush" aspect of the character I was actually dressed up as. I got a lot more wary of Japanese traditional clothing costume bases after that.