Reflection 7

Rites of passage are important because it is used as a sign that we are leaving our state of childhood and entering the adult world. The rite of passage can be different depending on one’s culture. In the Hispanic culture, a young girl has her quincenera which signifies her becoming a young woman. In the Jewish religion a child has his/her bar mitzvah/ bat mitzvah. This ceremony takes place when the child turns thirteen. Although this ceremony is not to introduce the child to the adult world, the bar mitzvah/ bat mitzvah is for the child to realize the coming of their new age and with that the new responsibilities that come along with it. After having read the readings based on the rites of passage, I realized there are so many different customs that to one person may seem a bit too much and for others it may well seem normal. In Africa, the girls have an operation where a piece of their genital organ is trimmed. While this operation is occurring, the girl is not allowed to yell in pain or cry. This is not only seen as an operation but as a ritual. In my opinion, I do not see how something so painful could be a rite of passage. I am not trying to be close minded but I do not think it is necessary to cut a woman’s genital organ. This could cause infections that if not treated properly can lead to serious problems. When I read about the Sambia I was in shock. I had no idea that there were some cultures that permitted homosexuality even though according to them it is not homosexuality. I found it odd that the younger boys had to perform the fellatio to older boys in order to prepare themselves to have sex with a woman once they were married. I saw this is an act of molestation and found it disturbing. I cannot speak ill of these customs because it is their beliefs and that is what needs to be done to ensure the rights of passage in their culture but I did find it to be a bit much. Education has rites of passage as well. When you reach another grade you are growing up and passing on to a higher level. Once in college most have entered a world of independency which in its own is a rite of passage to the adult world and new responsibilities come along with it. All these customs trickle down from our ancestors from generation to generation. It is a way of life and the way we see our children and our children’s children move into their own rite of passage.