Tausug society traditionally did not allow for open courtship between unmarried men and women. Men would indirectly express interest through letters, glimpses of women from a distance, or poetic metaphors. By the 1980s, courtship became less conservative, with men escorting women in public or visiting them at home with chaperones. Modern courtship among Tausug involves initial digital communication through texting and social media, followed by in-person dates, sharing activities, and gift giving.

1. TAUSUG’S Traditional and modern means of courtship