Rites of passage in adolescence

Rites of passage in adolescence are a cross-cultural phenomenon. They have existed

throughout the human history and may be a significant factor in the development of a stable
adult personality. Broken down into its most basic elements, a rite of passage involves a
separation from society, preparation or instruction from an elder, a transition and a welcoming
back into society with acknowledgement of the adolescent’s changed status. The transition
itself most often takes place within the format of some ceremony, many aspects of which are
common to widely diverse cultures. They generally include spiritual cleansing, physical
transformation, prayers and blessings, traditional food and dress and traditional musical
instruments and songs.

Read the second paragraph of the essay and then rearrange these sentences in
chronological order.
The Okiek are a tribal people of Kenya. The rite of passage ceremony is similar for
girls and boys, ages 14 to 16, though the genders are initiated separately. The initiates are first
ceremonially circumcised. After this, they live in seclusion from adults of the opposite sex for
4 to 24 weeks. They paint themselves in order to appear as wild creatures. Certain secret
knowledge is taught by same sex adults. The most important knowledge concerns a mythical
beast that haunts the initiates during their time in seclusion. At night its roar can be heard and
the initiation is complete when each youth has seen and held the instrument used for
producing the roar and then produced the roar themselves.
- The initiates do not meet the adults of the opposite sex for 1 to 6 months.
- All boys and girls aged 14 to 16 are separated.
- During a period of seclusion same sex elders reveal them some secret knowledge
- During a solemn ceremony adolescents are circumcised
- At this stage they go back into their tribe as adults
- When the initiates have acquired knowledge and experience, their initiation is
complete

Read the next paragraph and identify what the basic elements of a rite of passage
consist in, in modern American society.
In modern America, laws regarding child labour and mandatory school attendance and
also the organisation of the educational system into age grades have served to isolate
teenagers from the rest of society. The obligation to spend the day together in a school
environment has led to a strong tendency for adolescents to socialise among themselves
during their leisure time.
Within the four high-school years, they are supervised and instructed by teachers who
might be said to be acting in the role of initiator. However, in most educational facilities, the
student – to – teacher ratio is high enough to be prohibitive of extended periods of one-to-one
interaction. As a result, it is not uncommon for a student to graduate without ever having
bonded with an instructor. Even more significantly, spirituality and morality are not widely
regarded as appropriate areas of instruction in the classroom. In spite of the presence of many
elements common to rites of passage, such as traditional robes and speeches congratulating
the students and welcoming them into adulthood, graduation may lack depth of meaning for
the students. Often, important aspects of their development have never been addressed. As a
result, the transition remains incomplete. It is possible that this omission is, in part,
responsible for the lack of direction some youth experience and the apprehension with which
they contemplate the future. Entering the work force or embarking on higher education, they
often are not equipped with the necessary components of a stable adult personality such as a
moral code, a faith or world view which sustains them during crisis and perhaps, most
importantly a positive self image. Thus, many adolescents seek to supplement the rite of
passage provided by formal education by finding themselves through the intense personal
experience obtained by drugs, alcohol and early sexual intercourse.

In pairs, discuss and answer the following questions:

- Is the quality of instruction low in American schools? Why or why not?
- Is the situation in Romanian schools similar or different?
- Is graduating high-school a meaningful step in an adolescent’s life? Why or why
not?
- When is transition complete?
- How do adolescents react to transition?
- What are the essential components of a stable adult personality? Would you
suggest more/others?

Read the last part of the essay and complete the sentences with the information
from the text:
“First times” are often an attempt to initiate one’s self or to be initiated by peers. They
are often characterised by a premature attempt to imitate adult behaviour such as smoking,
social drinking or sexual activity. This is usually done in isolation from general society in
order to avoid punishment. The change in status therefore can be acknowledged only by
peers. This often diminishes the sense of legitimacy of these rites. Also, without the
participation of adults, the initiates are not likely to experience of continuity. Thus, young
people who want to initiate themselves or each other don’t have the opportunity to gain a
view of themselves as part of a greater pattern. Another major concern with respect to this
behaviour is the natural lack of judgement young people show in avoiding harmful
consequences of their actions. Teenage pregnancies, addictive patterns of alcohol and drug
consumption are too often the result. In particular, gangs represent one of the most dangerous
forms of peer initiation. They are a problem most prevalent among socio-economically
disadvantaged Americans.
The forms of adolescent rites of passage vary greatly; however, the need for
separation, involvement of an elder, transition and a recognised change in status is clear.
These elements are found in the behaviour of humans at this stage of life. If our society does
not adequately provide for these needs in a formalised structure, young people will seek to
create their own rites. These attempts may be at least partially successful, but often are
disastrous.
- The typical “first times” of an adolescent are……………………………………….
- When adolescents initiate themselves or each other they normally………………...
- “First times” are always secret and done in separation because……………………
- What diminishes the legitimacy of self and peer initiation is lack of………………
- The dangerous consequences of peer initiation are…………………………………