Reflection #7 EDF2085 Importance of rites of passage

Samantha Clarke
Reflection #7 EDF2085
Importance of rites of passage

Rites of passage signifies the process of passing from childhood to manhood. It is a stage where all childish behaviors and attitudes should be forgotten. Regardless of your culture or where you are from every one participate in the rites of passage. Some country celibate your sixteenth birthday and this should signify that you are now an adult. While some may start at a later or earlier age. Rites of passage can be a very rigorous process depending on the culture. Regardless of culture the rites of passage actually take you from your present group or stage and prepares you for a new stage, and then re-entered at this new stage into society. During this time each individual will form their own paradigms and prepare themselves for the future.

In Sambia regular fellatio is practiced as their rites of passage from youth to man. They are literally forced to perform these rituals in order to complete the process of becoming a man. In addition to this they are though the secret of the tribe which their life is threatened if they should discloses this to a female. In Sambia this was a sacred act, that has been passed down from ancestor to ancestors. The youth will be taught by elder men for many years.

In Mt. Kenya the boys are circumcised and the girls female section is carefully dissected. This is preceded by a series of ceremony and special diet in the latter end. The girls were to be pure meaning no sexual activity, for this reason she is put through a series of interrogation for the purpose of confession. If she is sexually active a special purification is done to before the initiation process. All these rituals are done to ensure the passage of rites.

Formal education is a form of rites of passage. The process from childhood the start of school is another form of passage. However when student have been through a series of learning, from high school through to college they are in an initiation process. At graduation, students enter the society as well prepared men and women. Formal education can be view as a rites of passage in this sense, which is common to most European countries.