| caption: |
Chapter Three. Phases of Life |
| caption: |
complete sexual freedom; virginity not expected |
| text: |
Before marriage boys and girls enjoyed complete sexual freedom, and as long as the rules of morung and clan exogamy were observed, no one interfered with the love affairs of young people. Although parents sometimes arranged early marriages, an attempt to forbid their unmarried daughter a friendship with a particular boy would have aroused general disapproval. The institution of girls' dormitories, moreover, made parental control impracticable, and in Wakching it was generally accepted that a girl would have sexual relations before marriage. Virginity was neither valued nor expected of a young girl. |
