Mama-san

Amama-sanormamasanis usually a woman in a position of authority, especially one in charge of ageisha houseor bar or nightclub in East Asia.

InSoutheast Asiaa mamasan is a woman who works in a supervisory role in certain establishments, typically those related to drinking places.Papa-sanmay refer to a man in a similar position.

The term is a combination of the English word "Mama" and theJapanesesuffix-sanwhich is a polite honorific attached to a person's name or title, coined by U.S. soldiers in Japan afterWorld War II.This probably has had some influence in its spread to other Southeast Asian countries.

It is considered extremely rude to refer to a woman in charge of a respectable restaurant or inn asmama-san.The proper title for her isokamiorokami-san.

InThailandand thePhilippines,mamasan is commonly used to describe a woman who manages thefemale workersin bars and brothels.

To at least some extent, these can be considered the local equivalents of amadam,although the conventions ofbar fineprostitution in Asia are quite different from those of street or brothel prostitution in western countries.

Mamasan (sometimes abbreviated MMS) is also used in the United States to refer to the woman managing the staff of Asianmassage parlors.

External links

• Use of term in Vietnam war era