>It makes an interesting progression. Girls who accept sleep early,
>putting all their trust in others, are destined to be "good wives and
>mothers." Those who hang on longer, preparing and training the men,
>will be leaders and heroes (but might have trouble finding a partner
>who can accept them).
I don't think Heortlings have this concept of "good wives and mothers" as being passive and trusting - it's a 19th Century European/American idea. They have a sex based division of labour but women are expected to be capable and assertive in their sphere. Men expect that, their mothers probably were, so they will choose partners who are also capable - especially as female relatives have no hesitation in advising on the suitability or otherwise of the various possibilities.
>Those who refuse to go to sleep at all, but
>remain to fight alongside the men, are marked out as likely candidates
>for Vinga or Babeestor Gor initiation after their year of further
>training. (And will be shunned by most sensible men). But it isn't a
>"separate initiation path" at this stage - it's how far you go down
>the same path.
I think the likely reaction is more "Let her play the tomboy for a year and see if fyrd training knocks some sense into her skull". For most it does and only the remainder are considered as candidates for the female fighting cults. I don't think that men shun Vingans (Babs yes - they're fanatical man haters), some do because they're afraid of being bested by a woman but mostly it's friendly competition.
>Incidentally, as a side issue, do people think that there will be as
>many men who follow Nandan as women who follow Vinga? And if not, why
>not?
I think the number of women who follow Vinga has been grossly exaggerated. As a permanent choice I think both Vinga and Nandan are very rare - maybe 1% of the population. Both are also vehicles for gaining access to other sex magic and skills in a socially acceptable way. As such they will have a fair number of temporary members, maybe as many as 10% of Heortlings will switch roles at some stage in their life. The best known example is from KoS - "Every childless widow among the Kheldon tribe dyed her hair red that winter". Equally there will be occasions where widowers are left to care for children. It may be less common given that child raising tends to be a communal activity so a widower is likely to have a sister-in-law, mother or aunt who can take over.
-- Donald Oddy http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/ ------------------------------
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