Positive aspects of rites of passage include close family and community ties. But, some rights of passage can leave permanent physical marks on the practitioner, even leading to physical disability in some cases.
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Positive aspects of rites of passage include close family and community ties. But, some rights of passage can leave permanent physical marks on the practitioner, even leading to physical disability in some cases.
Oh, this is hard. Tattoos are such a wide-spread part of so many cultures (not even taking into account the current hipster fascination with them in the West, which is less cultural than temporal, I expect) that it’s hard to argue against protecting them. But female genital mutilation? My Western European, feminist self recoils from the idea of protecting that custom, as I cannot see it as anything but barbaric. Have never quite understood male circumcision – certainly a rite of passage with lifelong repercussions, but maybe because it happens at such a young age that it doesn’t count? I’m just ignorant, I admit – other discussants, please weigh in.
I think it’s a mistake to think of traditions as eternal. Things have always changed and they always will. I wonder if any culture has a tradition that’s really been unchanged most than a few hundred years at most. I’d be willing to bet that even traditions like scarification have gone through periods of greater or lesser adherence. When it comes today though I’m totally a fan of letting people do as they choose, but have no shame in pointing out that there are options. If a family wants to expose their child to a rite of passage they of course can, but I don’t think people should be shy of at least pointing out the consequences. I think it’s practical to think that traditions can be changed slowly, and only with the consent of the practitioners.
The following entry is from students in Mr. Rooney’s World Cultures class at Saint Basil Academy, who researched this Imagine Africa theme as part of the course.
No, rites of passage that can cause life-long repercussions should not be protected as cultural traditions. Rituals such as scarring and stretching a girl’s neck using necklaces are dangerous to the person’s health and are unnecessary. There are other ways to symbolize what these rituals represent without hurting the person. Rites of passage can change and become more safe and practical. With education, people in Africa can learn what risks they are taking and change their ways to make them safer, while still conveying the meaning of the ritual.