Sex Trade in Japan Implications for China

Presentation Schedule 1.Thesis 2.Brief history on Japanese Geisha 3.Labour conditions in Japan 4.Statistics of sex trade in Japan 5.Shift from textile jobs to prostitution 6.Is China following the same path? 7.Conclusion

Thesis As China deindustrializes and jobs shift from the manufacturing sector to the service sector, there will be an increase in sex trade workers within the Chinese workforce.

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

History of the Japanese Geisha Geisha is a female entertainer Extensive training process Geishas started in the 600’s as “saburuko” girls Pleasure quarters in the 18 th century Some Geishas offered sexual services, while others did not

History of the Japanese Geisha WWII brought decline in Geisha arts The Geisha name was tarnished by “comfort women” in WWII Women were sent to pleasure American soldiers and referred to themselves as “Geisha Girls” Education laws and Japanese industrial industry also brought a decline in Geishas

The Labour Force in Japan

The Workforce and Labour Conditions Mostly female workers from farm families 4 out of 5 textile workers were female Low education levels Harsh working conditions; long hours, unequal pay, arbitrary discipline, sexual harassment, and disease ridden facilities Large turnover rate in factories

Kanegafuchi Cotton Spinning Mill In 1900, 4,500 women employed Company forced to hire 4,762 new workers over twelve months 4,846 fled, 692 fired, 255 due to illness, 31 (1 percent) died Shows the severity of working conditions

Sex Trade Industry in the 1900’s Prostitution was legal Brothels controlled by government 50,000 prostitutes worked in Japan vs. 60,000 in cotton spinning mills (Andrew Gordon) in early 1900’s

Sex Trade Industry by Public brothels were outlawed in 1956, but freelance prostitution still active Lack of food, necessities and jobs forced young women into the streets Government estimates that in 1947 there were 40,000 prostitutes and by 1952, 70,000 prostitutes in Tokyo By the late sixties approximately 10,000 bars and cabarets in Tokyo These establishments explicitly sold sexual services illegally

Manufacturing Sector in Japan

Service Sector in Japan

Development Patterns of Economies

Causes of Prostitution in Japan Poor working conditions in textile factories Opportunity cost of sex trade Decline of primary industry and growth of tertiary industry Lack of education Large demand side

Sex Trade Industry in China 300,000 sex workers in Dongguan; and up to 800,000 people (10 percent of the city’s population) are involved in the sex trade in one form or another. Prostitution is illegal in China, but hard to contain by government since a lot of transactions are conducted through legitimate businesses.

Hourly Wages in China Yearly wages in manufacturing are considerably lower than can be earned in sex trade

Prostitution Rates in China Prostitutes can make from $1,640US to $4,900US per month in Dongguan Cost for two hours in brothels $160/hour Prostitutes can make 22-65% of the average annual income in low skilled manufacturing jobs within one month

Employment by Sector China

Causes of Prostitution in China Women have less job opportunities 90% of prostitutes tried finding factory work Working conditions made sex trade more appealing Forced into prostitution to provide for themselves and family Large demand side Movement from primary sector to tertiary sector

Conclusion Based on my research it is evident that the sex trade industry will increase in China as deindustrialization occurs due to a combination of factors. These include; low education levels of females, poor working conditions, low wage rates, big demand by the male population.

Questions 1.What were female entertainers called in Japan? 2.Explain why sex trade tends to increase as economies grow. 3.Japanese Geishas are often considered prostitutes in North America when in fact many only perform music and dancing. What event tarnished the reputation of Geishas in Japan?