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Rites of Passage

(Life-cycle Rituals)
(Transition Rites)

-- rituals associated with important changes in personal status, such as birth, adolescence (usually puberty), marriage, and death


The classis work on rites of passage is by Arnold Van Gennep, Rites of Passage, 1909

    • rites of separation
    • rites of preparation
    • rites of "aggregation" which incorporate the initiate into her/his new status


  • Rites of Intensification
    • rites which reaffirm a status in society

      • e.g., confirmation in the Christian church

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    • a ritual performed to mark a change in status from one life stage to another of an individual or group

    • phases often include:

      1. separation
      • initiate is separated physically, socially, or symbolically from normal life

    1. transition ("liminal phase")

      • person is no longer in the previous status, but is not yet a member of the next stage

      • often involves the learning of specialized skills that will equip the person for the new status

    1. reintegration

      • initiate emerges and is welcomed by the community in the new status

       

  • differences in the distribution of puberty rituals for boys and girls are thought to reflect the economic value and status of males and females within the society

    • most societies have some form of puberty ceremony for boys, but puberty ceremonies for girls are less common

      • this is related to the mode of production and gender division of labor

      • in societies where female labor is important and valued, girls have elaborate (and sometimes painful) puberty rites

      • female puberty rites often function to socialize the female labor force


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