| Many of the people are laughing and speaking loudly. I’m told that on a burial day, people are free to say anything they want, with no repercussions. The comments are mostly of a sexual nature. “I’m so horny right now—anybody care to join me?” People invite others for sexual trysts, regardless of marital status. One man even grabs between a woman’s legs, and while the comments seem mostly to be harmless, the woman is visibly unhappy at being touched. The comments are made regardless of who is present, and some of the younger Akha have never heard their elders speak this way. |