Marriage doesn't have to mean sex and sex doesn't have to mean children.
In this world, it probably does. I doubt there's any form of birth control available for people who are starving. And I doubt Katniss understands that there are other forms of sex. It's the same thing with there seemingly not being gay couples. I have no problem believing that a society like that would strictly regulate the sex lives of their citizens. If you can get whipped for stealing fruit (implausible as that may be) why is it unreasonable that the same might happen if it's leaked that you're gay/lesbian/bisexual or if you have sex outside of marriage or deliberately try not to have children? It would be just another way to control the districts and make them weak. It may be annoying and squicky for us to think about but in the context of this book, knowing what other things that government does, I have no problem imagining getting married without at least trying for kids is a gutsy move.
Lots of things in the book were illogical but that is one thing I don't have that hard a time believing. It's awful but believable.
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Date: 2012-03-17 12:20 pm (UTC)In this world, it probably does. I doubt there's any form of birth control available for people who are starving. And I doubt Katniss understands that there are other forms of sex. It's the same thing with there seemingly not being gay couples. I have no problem believing that a society like that would strictly regulate the sex lives of their citizens. If you can get whipped for stealing fruit (implausible as that may be) why is it unreasonable that the same might happen if it's leaked that you're gay/lesbian/bisexual or if you have sex outside of marriage or deliberately try not to have children? It would be just another way to control the districts and make them weak. It may be annoying and squicky for us to think about but in the context of this book, knowing what other things that government does, I have no problem imagining getting married without at least trying for kids is a gutsy move.
Lots of things in the book were illogical but that is one thing I don't have that hard a time believing. It's awful but believable.