Marriage

Abstract

In the Waropen area good breeding does not demand that the relation of the sexes be clothed in an understanding silence. Rather one might speak of an understanding mirth. Stories which undisguisedly mention sexual life are publicly told by young married women, accompanied by shouts of laughter of the listeners of both sexes, including the small children. No attempt is made to keep the nature and the significance of the relation between the sexes somewhat hidden, at least for the younger people, with the result that even the smaller children make gestures and remarks the meaning of which is far from doubtful.