Defining rites of passage

[jay]

Given a debate in the hallways at work today with hopeforyou, over someone's celebration this evening ... I just don't see how celebrating the onset of an icky, unpleasant bodily function that causes half the population to be cranky and require chocolate and paper products one out of every four weeks is a rite of passage, other than as an affliction. Might as well design a ritual to celebrate, say, acne as the door to adolescence.

In this culture, IMO the things which most clearly delineate children from adults are gaining independent mobility and finances. So I think that a first paid outside job and gaining a driver's license are the true rites of passage in the US, both usually happening around age 15-16.

Comments

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Because it's a passage into physically being a woman. Yeah, the monthly physical side of things sucks, but without it there would be no mothers, no children. It's the rite of passage into the community of women, no longer just a girl.

Given that boys don't have such a clear delineation between childhood and young adulthood, I can see why you don't see the point.

And without that affliction, and girls becoming women, you wouldn't have quite as much fun as you do, me boyo.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

you wouldn't have quite as much fun as you do, me boyo.
Heh. Given the relative libido of most of my partners, "much fun" seems a stretch... but the status quo's still better than zero, admittedly.