re: #536 Eowyn2

Are the female 10 yr olds considered women or children? do they get to be counted twice?

I get the feeling that a female is considered a “women” when she starts menstrating. IIRC, some ethnic groups start puberty earlier than others, and “health” plays a part. I don’t think marriages are consumated until menstration starts.

Remember this is a medieval culture. Marriage is about “protecting” the girls—getting them out of their fathers household —where they have no valule and into their husband’s household where they can produce babies. Females are a resource, not people. It’s a different concept of marriage from what we believe all together.