In an experiment conducted at the University of Texas, children paid more attention to attractive faces than to unattractive faces (Newman 3). Even six-month-old babies, who do not understand ethical and social values, can judge appearances. Within society, beauty is a powerful force that can be used to oppress and discriminate against different groups. The “world of flowers and willows” of geisha is a community that depends on the recognition of beauty and artistry (Wieder 1). Geishas are entertainers, highly respected and revered as “living treasures” of Japanese culture (Akita 3). Despite differences in regions and times, all cultures value women for their beauty; thus, the role of women evolves to meet the changing needs that exist in the geisha community of Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha, ancient Chinese foot-binding traditions, and the modern workplace. In Memoirs of a Geisha, Chiyo, a poor girl living in a small fishing village, enters an unknown world when she is sold into an okiya, a halfway house for geisha. Forced to work as a servant, Chiyo is reluctant to obey the okiya that prevents her from seeing her family. Once Chiyo realizes that her past is irretrievable, she understands “how completely the landscape of [her] mind has changed” to long for “an image of the geisha that [she] wanted to become” (Golden 161). Chiyo's change in perspective led her to recognize her desire to be part of the glamorous geisha lifestyle. Through this transformation, “[she] is no longer known as Chiyo. [She is] the novice geisha Sayuri” (176). As an apprentice geisha, Sayuri dedicates herself entirely to the study of the arts. To fully embrace this lifestyle, however, Sayu...... middle of paper ......eimark 5). The idea that older people can't keep up with the modern world is a clear theme in the workplace. To maintain their job status, older women have to undergo liposuction and facelifts, causing enormous psychological effects on self-esteem. In past and present societies, women find value in their communities depending on different aspects of beauty. In Memoirs of a Geisha, Sayuri gains economic independence through dramatic competitions between herself and other geisha. The ancient Chinese tradition of foot binding continued a custom that subjugated women under the mask of beauty. Today's modern workplace comes with a high standard of professional appearance that requires plastic surgery. In all cases, beauty plays an essential role in instilling a culture that persists and defines the complex relationships between women and men.