Adolescence to Adulthood
Adolescence begins at the end of childhood, generally when a child reaches the age of puberty. The arrival of adolescence is definite and certain, for example in girls, adolescent is determined by menarche or their first menstruation whereas in boys, growth of reproductive parts determine the onset of adolescence (Glozah and Lawani 1188:1197). Adolescence ends with the beginning of adulthood but the later stage is vague and not definite to mark its onset. Adolescence to adulthood signifies life transition. Traditional societies have rites of passage which helped the individuals evolve through stages. In spite of this, contemporary societies lack the ceremonial traditions and rites for the smooth transition from adolescence to adulthood.
It is explained that ceremonies and rites are significant social events that assist affirm and guide a transition from one life phase to the subsequent phase (Van Gennep 2011). Cross cultural studies have reported extensively about the concept of rites and the three sequences of separation, transition and incorporation. This research study is an anthropological conception of significance of cultures and rites for adolescent evolution to adulthood (Van Gennep 2011).
The separation stage is the time-based removal from society when and where an individual loses his identity (Van Gennep 2011). It involves leaving the house or relocation to some distance place temporarily. This makes the individual learn about the attitude, behavior and understanding of the next phase he is moving towards. The next stage is the transition stage where the individual has lost his identity but has not been re-included in the community with a new identity (Van Gennep 2011). The final stage of rite of passage is the incorporation stage where the individual is accepted back in the community with a new identity. Now, it is expected from the individual to show the new skills and behavior, demonstrate new way of thinking and doing things, as a result of rituals (Van Gennep 2011). These rituals are important for a righteous transition because in those societies where the rites of passage are absent, the adolescents create rituals and rites for themselves by getting involved in violence, drug abuse, delinquency and bullying (Glozah and Lawani 1188:1197).
Let us understand the rituals of transition with the examples of a developing (Ghana) and a developed society (Norway). Ghana practices ‘Dipo’ where the girls are made learn to maintain their chastity until they are married, implying formally that now the girl has ceased to exist as a child and is getting ready for adult roles. The adolescent girls are taken to camps in Krobo mountains, taught various roles and responsibilities, paraded in processions which mark their virginity and preparedness for marriage. These girls are welcomed and respected across societies (Glozah and Lawani 1188:1197). In Norway, the adolescents have ‘Russ’ ceremony which marks their departure from adolescence to adulthood. The Norweign high school students are made to wear new clothes, celebrate, party and drink beer as a special ritual to transition that is held from 1st to 17th May of every year. They drink alcohol and engage in sexual activities which help them take up the new adult roles. They are not physically separated from their homes but they start doing their own things independently (Glozah and Lawani 1188:1197).
These cultures are well accepted by their societies and large number of conventional communities have their own rituals of transition because people assume adolescence and adulthoods as the stages of chaos and unpredictability and these practices make sure that these stages do not become the stages of stress, storm and remorse for the new adults.
References
Van Gennep, Arnold. The rites of passage. University of Chicago Press, 2011.
Glozah, Franklin N., and Suleman Lawani. "Social change and adolescent rites of passage: A cross cultural perspective." International Journal of Human Sciences 11.1 (2014): 1188-1197.
