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

[coyote3502.livejournal.com]

Frankly, we are stuck with our bodies. I'd rather celebrate it than consider it to be a necessary evil to be tolerated, barely. This is a place where our culture has done *everyone* a grave disservice. How much mental illness could be avoided by having a culture that acknowledges and celebrates Physical Humanity, even sexuality, instead of demonizing it.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Maybe... but celebrating sexuality or carnality might very well induce its own illnesses or unpleasant side-effects, just as does the other approach.

[deedeebythebay.livejournal.com]

Depending on how it's done....