Growing Up Sexually

ABOR (India)

More: Lingayats, Bengali, Punjabi; Rājpūts, Brahmans, Nagas, Chamars, Nayar, Todas, Hill Maria Gond, Hill Saoras, Sinhalese, Purum, Veda, Santals, Garos, Muria Gonds, Baiga, Nimar Bahalis, Telugu, Lepcha, Lodha, Uttar Pradesh, Andamanese, Nicorbarese

Sarma[1]:

“The Abor girl grows up without any feelings of conflict in the period between childhood and puberty. They learn of the relations between the sexes at an early age and are completely aware of the different biological phases of their lives. It is natural to have sexual relations before they attain puberty. The attainment is not marked by any ritualistic performance. A girl does not consider her first menstruation to be an event important enough to tell anybody. She has no shame in letting people know, however, and may speak of it casually to her age mates”(p102)

There are separate boy and girl dormitories (moshup and rahseng, resp.). Girls are expected to be courted there at night, leaving before dawn (p112-3).

Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology, Berlin

Last revised: Sept 2004