Ngomba and Ramisoanala both begin their rites of passage as incomplete. The storyteller emphasizes the importance of appearance for both girls in the stories. As they begin their rites of passage they are imperfect, Ngomba has sores throughout her body and Ramisoanala has no eyes or skin. The only way for these girls to undergo a change into adulthood is for their outer appearance to be restored to beauty. In these cultures, woman undergo a different process to reach adulthood than men. Their beauty is taken away from them and returned signifying the importance of outer appearance in this society. Woman are revered by their overall beauty and appearance, and accepted into society with a new identity. Fundamentally the stories are similar
