Individual Paper 3 Rites of Passage SAS 1 PDF

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Download Individual Paper 3 Rites of Passage SAS 1 PDF

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The Door of Becoming an Adult In the darkness of a dense forest, a drama is unfolding. This is place where thousands of years of tradition dictate that justice is found at the end of an arrow. It is within this society that we follow the odyssey of a tribe as they battle the modern world and the forces of change that threaten their long-held traditions. The significance of the transitory mark of adolescence to adulthood was recognized by cultures from all over the world. Males are acknowledged as men after undergoing particular processes and are conveyed differently in other cultures; this helps them understand who they are in their family and their places in their society, as well as what the related obligations are. In anthropology, the term "rites of passage" refers to unique ceremonies that commemorate a personal or collective transformation in a person's identity. They are the major events that occur during a person's life stage. Birthdays, anniversaries, marriages, debutante balls, and other types of events represent significant life phases in our own society. However, in other cultures, the rites of passage are typically considerably more important than they are in our own. In fact, today, probably right at the very moment, there are children in completely different regions of the world who are going through an impactful experience. They are holding a coming-of-age celebration in which their community gets together to commemorate the time when a child begins their journey to maturity and to pave the path for them along the way. The typology that we have for understanding rites of passage comes to us from the anthropologist Arnold van Gennep who published a book in 1909 entitled “Rites of Passage” and noted that there are three main stages in a rite of passage: the separation from the group; a period of transition; and the reintegration back into the group.

Circumcision is an important part of a rite-of-passage to manhood in most of these societies, and while it may have started as a test of bravery and endurance, it is now linked to masculinity, social cohesion among boys of the same age who are circumcised at the same time, self-identity, and spirituality, according to Dr. Hankins. Females are also subjected to genital surgeries in a few civilizations, despite the fact that they are more usually done on men. According to symbolic anthropology, removing the foreskin eliminates the female-looking component of the male genitalia, just as female circumcision removes the erectile tissue from a female anatomy. As a result, it is not only symbolically but also physically making them into men and women. This is an extreme example, but the same basic pattern of male-female animosity exists in a different culture. Female genital cutting, which has attracted worldwide attention and has been attacked by human rights campaigners since the 1980s, may have psychological meaning following Freudian lines of interpretation, and it appears evident of how it is also significant as a social status symbol. Moreover, even though most male initiation ceremonies that have existed throughout human history, especially those from underdeveloped countries may look unpleasant and barbaric through the prism of Western society, they should be still appreciated and therefore utilized to sustain the world of cultural abundance. However, rites of passage have proven damaging to their culture and society over time. It will be clear why rites of passage should be adjusted after the distinction between beneficial and detrimental rites of passage has been established. After examining these characteristics, it will be clear that rites of passage are culturally significant, but those that have passed the line of appropriateness should be adjusted in order to restore the benefits of these important traditions.

After thousands of years of being cut off from modern civilization, the government has recently introduced modern goods, such as t-shirts, cooking pots, spoons, and matches to the villages. Though the old men are trying to keep the old skills alive so that the villagers do not become dependent on outside supplies, will they be able to withstand the impact of the outside realm? Reaching out to tribes, even the most remote ones, has become much simpler with the technological advancements we are presently experiencing. These practices, on the other hand, are on the edge of extinction because of this development. If ever: we will fail to preserve that particular trail that connects us to our forefathers; we will lose the stewards who have been keeping the ancient way of life; furthermore, future generations will be deprived of the opportunity to fully comprehend them, since these practices and individuals will most likely only be found in a book or in a library archive. Perhaps they will be amazed, but they will fail to appreciate it. Given that rites of passage will inevitably fade away, the starting point for selftransformation will always be within ourselves, and it will always be self-realization. Boys can be circumcised as young as eight years old, and most girls get their first period around the age of twelve, but it can begin as early as eight. We were already able to exercise our voting rights at the age of 15, apply for a student permit at the age of 16, and begin driving at the age of 17. By the age of 18, it became a defining moment, as it is when a person is officially and legally recognized as an adult, with the opportunity to exercise certain rights as well as the need to perform certain duties. However, none of these ages adequately point out that we have already reached maturity, not even when we reached "legality" at the age of 18. It is because society dictated everything. Even though we are well aware that we are not yet ready, we are expected to act in accordance with the standards they have established.

This is eventually the problem we are facing right now; we do not have clearly marked rites of passage. It is not clear when a boy becomes a man, and when a girl becomes a woman. Hence, if ever the rites of passage disappear, let us leave it for ourselves to decide when we can be considered an adult. Let self-realization be the baseline of this transition and carry this along the way until the time we fully realize that we are already prepared in opening the door of adulthood.

HANNAH APRIL LUNA BS IN CHEMISRY – II SAS1-13

References Althaus, F. (2016, December 6). Female Circumcision: Rite of Passage Or Violation of Rights? Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/ipsrh/1997/09/femalecircumcision-rite-passage-or-violation-rights Britannica. (n.d.). Rite of passage - Initiation rites. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/rite-of-passage/Initiation-rites UNAIDS. (2007). Male Circumcision: context, criteria and culture (Part 1). Unaids.org. https://www.unaids.org/en/resosurces/presscentre/featurestories/2007/february/20070226 mcpt1...