Rights of Passage in Adolesence

Adolescence in psychology is considered the transitional stage in life between the carefree dependence of childhood, and the responsibilities and maturity of adulthood (Markstrom & Iborra, p.1, 2003). The change of status from these stages in a life cycle are often marked by rituals and rites of passage within various cultures as a way to celebrate, but also proclaim this change for the individual and to other members of the society (Crapo, p.6.6, 2013) It is the point of this paper to begin my examination on rites of passage from two cultures, the Navajo and the Jewish, and present a discussion on the similarities, differences, and significance of their rituals.

Rites of Passage in Adolescence

Kayla Butler

ANT101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Instructor: Ashi Das

January 11, 2015

Rites of Passage in Adolescence

Introduction

Adolescence in psychology is considered the transitional stage in life between the carefree dependence of childhood, and the responsibilities and maturity of adulthood (Markstrom & Iborra, p.1, 2003). The change of status from these stages in a life cycle are often marked by rituals and rites of passage within various cultures as a way to celebrate, but also proclaim this change for the individual and to other members of the society (Crapo, p.6.6, 2013) It is the point of this paper to begin my examination on rites of passage from two cultures, the Navajo and the Jewish, and present a discussion on the similarities, differences, and significance of their rituals.

The Navajo Kinaaldá

The Navajo are an Indian tribe from North America with various traditions and rituals, but one in particular is called the Kinaaldá, which is the female coming of age ceremony. This ceremony is a complex 4 day ritual that is meant to connect and transform a girl into the woman she is to become (Markstrom & Iborra, 2003). Formal dramatizations like the Navajo Kinaaldá...