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“Purdah” strictly prescribes intimacy between men and women outside of their own families. Transgression of this code insults a family's honour and may be punishable, in extreme cases by the death of both parties. While women have freedom of movement to carry out normal tasks, they may not travel, for example, to Pattan without the company of a male family member.

Palasi girl covering her head

Communication between husbands and their wives may be limited, particularly immediately after marriage. A married woman generally lives with her in-laws. There may be strong pressure for her to bear sons and if she cannot, she may be ill-treated, and/or her husband may take a second wife. Widows are usually provided for by remarriage to their husband's brother.

Contact between men and women in Palas is closely circumscribed by the system of ‘purdah' (literally, ‘veiling', but more broadly a code of conduct). Purdah in Palas is relatively relaxed compared to some Pashtoon areas of NWFP and Afghanistan e.g. Palasi women never wear ‘burqa' in the valley, the head-to-toe veil. For the same reason, a woman may be killed where rape (or incest) leads to pregnancy. Purdah also defines the space within which women (and men) are free to move. Women in Palas have considerable freedom to move within their houses and fields and to the forests and pastures to carry out their daily work. However, longer journeys must be discussed and arranged in advance with the men of the family, and may not be possible without a male chaperone.

Women cannot sit in the (male) jirgas; it is not clear to what extent women influence community or household decision. Formal women's groups do not exist in Palas, and both purdah and the high workload make it difficult for women to meet. However, women are often brought together by daily chores.