As mothers-in-law and sons-in-law are likely to be of approximately the same age the avoidance practice possibly serves to circumvent potential illicit relationships.
Once children are older, they are viewed as potential marital partners and their sexual behaviour becomes one of strict avoidance until married.
Intimate bodily contact between women regardless of marital status is not considered sexually suggestive but affirmation of friendship and a right to touch.
[1][3] Traditionally, this meant avoiding referring to a dead person by name directly after their death as a mark of respect[4] – and also because it is considered too painful for the grieving family.
Most television stations use a disclaimer warning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers that the program may contain images and voices of dead Indigenous people (as recommended by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation[5]).
In traditional society, people lived together in small bands of extended family, and name duplication was less common.