Outrageous news out of Oakland from my good friends and community organzers and the work they're doing up there: Diana Pei Wu, Jenn Pae, Angelica Jongco, Xiaojing Wang, and Jen Mei Wu. [Please note: This is NOT an APA for Progress campaign, like some have mis-portrayed it.]

The Oakland Planning Commission just approved a permit for a bar to open at 316 14th St., pretty much in Chinatown.  Business as usual right? Not when the bar's name is going to be "Geisha," and sells stereotypes and images that perpetuate the violence and silencing of Asian women and girls. 

Word is that the permit request was put in by the bar owners last year.  Despite dialogue and pleas with the owners to change the name of their bar in the past year, Jamal Perry (business owner / applicant) and Unsuk Perry (property owner) - 2 Asian Americans -  continue to push forward.  According to a note from my friend Diana, the local Asian American community agrees,

That the proposed name for the proposed establishment, “Geisha,” plays upon and reinforces racist and sexist stereotypes about Asian women and will significantly impact the quality of civic life in the neighborhood should it remain thus unfortunately named.  Intentionally or not, the use of the word is culturally related to a set of stereotypes of Asian women that is a well-documented social fact that is well-documented in the social sciences, Asian American Studies, ethnic studies and even by popular authors such as Sheridan Prasso.  [We] argue that because of the relationship of the word geisha to negative sexualized and violent stereotypes towards Asian American women, this proposal to create a bar at that location fails to meet Objectives D1, D5, D9 and D12 [of the City of Oakland].

You still think that the image of a geisha (picture above is an ad for a tile company in Europe that got banned by the Advertising Standards Authority) is harmless? Diana's note continues:

The impacts of this stereotype, as documented in the academic and medical literature, and in [testimonials at tonight's hearing], include:

• Sexual harassment. Every day racialized sexual harassment of Asian and Asian American women [APAP commentary: Just a couple years ago, cops were looking for the NorCal Rapist, who targeted Asian women in the Bay area, including in Oakland Chinatown.]
• Mental illness. Other studies have documented for all racial groups that the prevalence of every day racial aggression is related to mental illness, physical and psychological well-being and contributes to stress, anger and depression in its victims (Chakraborty and McKenzie 2002; Kim 2002).
• Discriminatory economic impacts; rise in nonconsensual sex trade and pornography. Similarly, Professor of Asian American Studies Elaine Kim has argued that the stereotype of Asian women as submissive sex objects has impeded Asian women's economic mobility and has fostered increased demand in mail-order brides and ethnic pornography.

What's even more interesting is the dynamics at tonight's hearing. Apparently, the two white male members voted in favor of the permit saying that the name of the bar was not really viokence, which is sadly in my mind not surprising.  However, it is very sad to hear that one African American male member voted in favor of the permit.  Also, a Latina member who said that the name was personally offensive abstained from voting.  Vien Truong is the only Asian American member of the Commission, and voted a resounding NO! 

The final vote was: 4 votes in favor; 1 vote against; 1 abstain; 1 commissioner absent.

Yes Votes (to give Geisha a permit) - contact information provided for anyone wishing to contact these people:

Michael Colbruno
Clear Channel Outdoor
555 12th Street, Suite 950
Oakland, CA 94607
835-5900
Fax: 663-4662
Email: michaelcolbruno@clearchannel.com

C. Blake Huntsman
SEIU, Local 1021
155 Myrtle Street
Oakland, CA 94607
452-2366, ext. 522
Fax: 452-2436
Email: Blake.Huntsman@seiu1021.org

Douglas Boxer
Boxer & Associates, Inc.
300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 500
Oakland, CA 94612
286-2937
Fax: 835-0415
Email: dboxer@gmail.com

Vince Gibbs
City of Oakland
250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza Ste. 3315
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 903-9516
Email: VinceGibbs.opc@gmail.com

Abstain

Sandra Galvez
Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative;
Partnership for the Public's Health
180 Grand Ave, Suite 750
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 302-3369
Fax: (510) 451-8606
Email: sgalvez@phi.org

HELL NO!

Vien Truong
City of Oakland
250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza Ste. 3315
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 967-7783
Email: VienV.Truong@gmail.com

Absent

Madeleine Zayas-Mart
WRT/Solomon E.T.C.
1328 Mission Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
(Cell) 282-7287
Fax: 601-8858
Email: mzayasmart@sf.wrtdesign.com

I think most of us can agree with Diana, who is a resident and community activist in Oakland, when she says:

Most of us want good business establishments in our neighborhood. We just don't think that it should be on the backs, hearts, minds and mental health of the women and girls that we work with, defend, counsel, represent, teach, etc.  [Businesses] shouldn't contribute to the atmoshere of sanctioned violence against women of color.

Update (10/8/09)

And... if you want to read Dr. Diana Pei Wu's full analysis (which I excerpted above)... here you go:

MEMO

From: Diana Pei Wu, PhD
Faculty Lecturer, Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley
Visiting Faculty Fellow, Amherst College, 2009-2010

To: Oakland Planning Commissioners

Date: October 7, 2009

Re: Oakland Planning Commission Case File CM 09-163


Dear Planning Commissioners,

I am a resident in downtown Oakland and a professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley. Prior to that work, I also worked as the Director of Community Planning at Asian Neighborhood Design in San Francisco and have worked as a researcher on community development, environmental and housing issues for both Urban Strategies Council and Pacific Institute. I have been up here before multiple times, on issues as diverse as community benefits, affordable housing, Oakland arts and cultural funding and youth programs. I tell you this to illustrate my long-term commitment to the well-being of all Oaklanders and that is why I am standing before you tonight: because I love this town and it is my home.

I am writing with respect to the Permit regarding Case Number CM09-163 (APN 008-0625-047-00) that will be coming before you tonight (Wednesday, 10/7/09), a permit to open a bar at 316 14th Street.

We in the neighborhood have dubbed it the "unfortunately named" bar on 14th St.

Through extended discussion, we agree that the proposed name for the proposed establishment, “Geisha,” plays upon and reinforces racist and sexist stereotypes about Asian women and will significantly impact the quality of civic life in the neighborhood should it remain thus unfortunately named.

Intentionally or not, the use of the word is culturally related to a set of stereotypes of Asian women that is a well-documented social fact: in the social sciences, Asian American Studies, ethnic studies and even by popular authors such as Sheridan Prasso.

I, and we, argue that because of the relationship of the word geisha to negative sexualized and violent stereotypes towards Asian American women, this proposal to create a bar at that location fails to meet Objectives D1, D5, D9 and D12.

History of a stereotype

The impression that all Asian women were prostitutes, born at that time (the late 1800s and early 1900s), colored the public perception of, attitude toward, and action against all Chinese women for almost a century," writes historian Sucheng Chan (cf. Shah 1997).

As Asian American scholar Gary Okihiro notes, Western stereotypes of Asian women are related to the West’s geopolitical relationship with Asia – in particular a desire of the West to take possession, work over, and penetrate of Asia (cf. Shah 1997).

Whether intentional or not, the image and stereotype of the geisha, like that of lotus blossom, china doll, and the dragon lady, are a product of, and reinforce those cultural meanings that pervade our society. Staci Ford of the University of Hong Kong concluded that stereotypical depictions of women in general created by sexist white men continue to haunt movies – and culture - though they now have a disguised form. This is the origin and role of the geisha stereotype in our society.

The prevalence and reality of the geisha stereotype

A recent study conducted by Derald Wing Sue et al (2007) from the Teachers College at Columbia University identified 8 major types of microaggressions commonly experienced by Asian Americans. Of the 8, 2 are relevant to the issue at hand today.

According to Wing Sue et al, microaggressions are brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to people of color because they belong to a racial – and this case, racial and sex-based – minority group. These exchanges are so pervasive and automatic in daily interactions that they are often dismissed and glossed over as being innocuous.

First is the exotification of Asian women, where Asian and Asian American women are perceived as being available for sexual favors for men. As Jessica Tan and Jen-Mei Wu’s testimonials also concur, these incidents are not isolated to academic books and journals and social justice circles, but a salient feature of Asian American women’s lives in Oakland, in downtown, in the United States every day. I would hope and expect that the Oakland in which I live, work, love and play would absolutely reject any role in allowing this stereotype to live or become in any way a feature of the physical or psychological landscape of this city.

Second was the widespread denial of Asian Americans racial realities. This included messages being conveyed that Asians are not an ethnic minority group, experience little or no discrimination, and that their racial concerns are unimportant. In this case, the group’s prior attempted exchanges with Perry were met with absolute denial that our concerns about the name of the bar-restaurant-lounge could possibly be reinforcing a racist and sexist stereotype, nor even that geisha itself was a racist and sexist stereotype in the US and Western context. Denial of this issue and its impacts on the physical and mental health of Asian Americans would constitute an example of this type of violence.

According to Wing Sue et al, microaggressions are brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to people of color because they belong to a racial – and this case, racial and sex-based – minority group. These exchanges are so pervasive and automatic in daily interactions that they are often dismissed and glossed over as being innocuous.

The study also “provides strong support that microaggressions are not minimally harmful and possess detrimental consequences for the recipients.”

Impacts of the stereotype

The impacts of this stereotype, as documented in the academic and medical literature, and in today’s testimonials, include:

• Sexual harassment. Every day racialized sexual harassment of Asian and Asian American women
• Mental illness. Other studies have documented for all racial groups that the prevalence of every day racial aggression is related to mental illness, physical and psychological well-being and contributes to stress, anger and depression in its victims (Chakraborty and McKenzie 2002; Kim 2002).
• Discriminatory economic impacts; rise in nonconsensual sex trade and pornography. Similarly, Professor of Asian American Studies Elaine Kim has argued that the stereotype of Asian women as submissive sex objects has impeded Asian women's economic mobility and has fostered increased demand in mail-order brides and ethnic pornography. Recently an ad was banned in the UK because of the association between a woman dressed in geisha-suggestive clothing and makeup and implied violent sexual acts (enclosed).

I sincerely hope that the Oakland Planning Commission understands the impacts of this stereotype and will not deny its existence in today’s society.

I, and we, argue that because of the relationship of the word geisha to negative sexualized and violent stereotypes towards Asian American women, this proposal to create a bar at that location fails to meet Objectives D1, D5, D9 and D12.

Specifically,

Identity: does the Oakland City Planning Commission wish to enhance the identity of downtown Oakland’s Commercial business District by promoting an image of sexualized, racialized violence against women as part of the CBD and General Plan?

Safety and perception of safety: As multiple testimonials and research shows, the stereotype of geisha contributes to a lifelong experience of sexual harassment and violence against Asian and Asian American women and young girls. Allowing the name will constitute violence against these women and contribute to perpetuating and reinforcing a culture of violence against women ad girls.

Serving the needs of downtown workers and residents. We are here as downtown workers and residents for whom the operation of this establishment as proposed will absolutely go contrary to our needs for the safe, welcoming and diverse spaces we want and need for the Oakland that we are helping to build.

Making downtown Oakland a regional destination for innovative learning, cultural resources, art and entertainment. I would love for this venue to become that. With a name such as the geisha bar, it is drawing on tired old stereotypes and will not serve a need of a large segment of the population. What is he message that the planning Commission would be sending to the 1/3 to 1/4 of the population that is of Asian descent in Oakland, the young girls and boys who are growing up here, the children we are raising?

I hope you recognize the clear and well-documented psychological violence that the name of this bar would contribute to and perpetuate against Asian and Asian American women, as well as all women, people of good conscience, and people committed to peace and justice, in the City of Oakland. This is not the Oakland we want to create.

Please do not allow this bar-restaurant-lounge to go forward with its current name – or any other unacceptable stereotype that perpetuates violence against Oakland’s diverse residents. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,
Diana Pei Wu, PhD

Faculty Lecturer, Comparative Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley
(Visiting Faculty Fellow in Global Sustainability, Amherst College, 2009-2010)

Selected Bibliography

Chakraborty, A., & McKenzie, K. (2002). Does racial discrimination cause mental illness? British Journal of Psychiatry, 180, 475– 477.

Ford, Staci. "Portrayal of Genders and Generation, East and West: Suzie Wong in the Noble House" (http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/35/3500494.pdf. Retrieved 2006-06-25)

Guillaumin, Colette. 1995. Racism, sexism, power, and ideology. London ; New York : Routledge.

Kim, Elaine (1984). "Asian American writers: A bibliographical review". American Studies International 22 (2): 41–78..

Kim, J. G. S. (2002). Racial perceptions and psychological well being in Asian and Hispanic Americans. Dissertation Abstracts International, 63(2-B), 1033B.

Makhijani, Pooja (Ed.). 2004. Under Her Skin: How Girls Experience Race in America. Seal Press.

Na, Vickie (Ed.). 2000. Yell-Oh Girls!: Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity, and Growing Up Asian American. New York: Quill Press.

Prasso, Sheridan. 2005. The Asian Mystique: Dragon ladies, Geisha Girls and Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient. New York: PublicAffairs.

Shah, Sonia. 1997. "Women and Gender Issues" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. <http://www.asian-nation.org/gender.shtml> (October 7, 2009).

Shimizu, Celine. 2007. The Hypersexuality of Race: Performing Asian/American Women on Screen and Scene. Duke University Press.

Tajima, R. (1989). Lotus blossoms don't bleed: Images of Asian women., Asian Women United of California's Making waves: An anthology of writings by and about Asian American women, (pp 308-317), Beacon Press

Toyama, Nikki A., Tracey Gee, Kathy Khang, Christie Heller de Leon, and Asifa Dean (Eds.). 2005. More Than Serving Tea: Asian American Women on Expectations, Relationships, Leadership and Faith. IVP Books.

Wing Sue, Derald, Jennifer Bucceri, Annie I. Lin, Kevin L. Nadal, and Gina C. Torino. 2007. “Racial Microaggressions and the Asian American Experience.” Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology 13 (1), 72– 81.

And here's Diana's take on how things went down last night at the Commission hearing.