20 Things you didn’t know about Amish women

These are facts that the Amish would rather not share with the world

The religious group in the Northeastern region of the United States are known for keeping their distance from modern technology but there are many more rules they have to follow. There are some especially strict restrictions for women.

If they don’t follow the rules they are punished or even driven out of the community. This means they can no longer see their friends or family. In a world where women have fought for the freedom in Western society, the life of the Amish looks like something you’d see back in the Middle Ages. We’ve put together twenty of the most bizarre rules and facts in one list.

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1. ‘Bundling’

Amish women are expected to always be polite, innocent, and almost child-like. There are numerous strict rules that must be followed when it comes to Amish relationships. For example, sex before marriage is strictly prohibited. In order to strengthen the bond between couples, they engage in a ritual called ‘bundling.’ In this ritual, a wood plank is laid out on from end to end on the bed. This means the couple can’t touch each other while still being able to talk for hours.

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2. They must serve their husbands

In contrast with modern society, women in the Amish community are not seen as equal to men. In fact, women are expected to follow any suggestion or wish her husband may have. This includes cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. Besides that, they really don’t get much of a say in anything.

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3. They have strange faceless dolls

One of the strangest and creepiest creations the Amish make are their faceless dolls. Normal dolls are already scary to some people, but the Amish take it a step further. They aren’t just normal toys: the dolls don’t have faces so that Amish girls and women won’t be focused on their appearance or beauty.

Focusing on your appearance is seen as a bad habit within their community. One of the most enduring creepy accessories of the Amish are their faceless dolls (and their Amish Fireplace). Dolls are already creepy, but these symbols of their community take it a step further.

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4. Children stop going to school at 13 years old

The Amish are often seen as not well-educated in comparison to the surrounding communities. And it’s not for nothing. They only attend school until they are 13 or 14 and aren’t allowed to go to schools outside of the community. This means they don’t get any information from outside of their village.

Learning new things is pretty much impossible. With that comes the fact that getting out of the community and getting a job is very difficult. Women don’t have any choice but to be housewives.

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5. They see photos as evil

Taking a quick selfie is a big no-no in the Amish community. And it’s not just because most of them don’t have phones. Taking a picture for yourself goes against Amish beliefs. By posing for a picture, you are too caught up in your physical appearance and run the risk of someone focusing solely on the way they look. This is the same principle behind the faceless dolls.

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6. They love to party

Taking all their strict rules and rituals into consideration, you’d think their social lives were pretty boring, but this is far from the truth. Amish teenagers often have barn parties or ‘hoedowns’ as they call them. For these parties, they buy lots of alcohol and drugs and party all night long. Drinking and drugs are a big problem amongst underaged Amish people. They’re not as innocent as you might think.

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7. Sixteen-year olds get a free pass to break the rules

8. Some Amish people have computers

Huh? Don’t the Amish hate modern technology. Correct, but in some cases, they make exceptions. Businesses run by the Amish can use them so not all their documents need to be handwritten.

One discovery made by the notorious Mennonite community was ‘The Classic,’ an old-fashioned computer that looks like something made in the 80’s. Their advertising proudly announces that the computers don’t have games or internet capabilities. According to them, these things would lead to temptation, a terrible sin for the Amish.

9. They’re the largest exporters of dogs born into puppy mills

It’s sad but true. The Amish community profits off of large-scale dog breeding. This often includes scandalous and cruel practices. The dogs’ vocal cords are often cut to keep them quiet and they’re kept in spaces that are far too small. Some Amish breeders earn up to half a million dollars every year.

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10. Breaking the rules leads to permanent banishment

For those Amish who have brought shame to their community, there’s only one road ahead: banishment. This can be a number of things: breaking religious rules, breaking tradition, and letting a company go bankrupt. Once the person has been banished, they lose all contact with their friends and family. Contact with the community in any form is strictly prohibited after being banished. If someone within the community tries to contact the banished person, the same fate awaits them.

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11.You’ve got to be all about the church if you want to pick up an Amish girl

Speed dates and Tinder aren’t something the boys can use if they’ve got a crush on a girl within the Amish community. Dating is very old fashioned and prudish. The success of the potential relationship lies primarily in which church you go to and how active you are there. The Amish are so strict that the young men have to have multiple conversations with his future in-laws before he’s even allowed to kiss his girlfriend.

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12. Amish weddings are cheap

If everything works out as planned, the couple won’t have to spend that much on their wedding day. The Amish aren’t about the glitz and glam: it has to be a quiet event. No big cake, bouquets of flowers, expensive rings or designer dresses. The woman must make her own dress and can choose the color. The only thing they’ll spend money is food: there are anywhere from 200 to 600 guests at an average Amish wedding.

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13. Buttons are a luxury for Amish women

You would think that buttons fit into the technology-free philosophy of the Amish, and yet… they are forbidden for women. Buttons are intended to make it easier to take off your clothes and according to the Amish, this could make the temptations between a man and a woman too hard to overcome. Therefore, all clothes are made from one piece.

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14. Sleeves can’t be too short

In addition to not being able to have buttons, Amish women must always wear long sleeves. The sleeves need to be at least elbow length. A simple t-shirt is therefore not an option. Uncovered arms are seen as being too risqué to the Amish. A very old-fashioned way of thinking.

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Source: https://www.tips-and-tricks.co/various/20-things-you-didn-t-know-about-amish-women/