What manhood/womanhood induction rituals do the modern, western societies utilize?

Not really. We have milestones like getting your license, but it hardly ushers you into the world of adulthood. College has easily become prolonged high school for many, increasing the delayed adolesence so many have griped about. We don’t really have any clear markers for that. Nothing that says “Okay, NOW you’re an adult.”

I’m almost 27, living with my long time partner, taking care of myself and such. Still not ever sure if I’m an adult (or if I want to be, by this society’s standards).

Ah, there you have it. Can it be that the members of our modern world are some what adrift in it as they don’t actually feel admitted or entitled? I wonder about this when I see so many young people joining the military. In my day, admittedly long ago, it was a thing most had to face (the draft) and it was a ritual, shared experience that admitted one to certain knowledge’s. Even if one was fortunate enough not to have to engage ion combat – still you were a member, lesser, but a member. Now? Hmmm.

It’s probably a part of it. I’ve got lots of ideas on how our society differs from holistic traditional societies that, in my opinion, are more life affirming. But I’m at work and have to go do something, so that’ll have to wait until later. :)

@incendiary_dan Quite understand the “at work” – That, “at work” is why I am sometimes absent from this site for days at a time. Be well, and let me hear your thoughts as convenient to you.

I don’t think we have any specific, concrete manhood/womanhood induction rituals in our society. That’s why some boys and girls in America grow up unsure and confused about their respective gender roles. We more or less depend on images, entertainment and media to model our masculinity or femininity on, like movie characters (eg., Batman, The Green Lantern, etc. for boys, and Barbie, Princess characters for girls). Sports provide a kind of “induction” for boys, especially team sports, and I think it’s becoming more common for girls too, as a means of empowerment. Dads may take their sons hunting, teach them how to fix a car, and Moms may teach their daughters how to cook, sew, etc. But other than that, we don’t have gender specific induction rituals like other cultures (Native American, Africa, South Pacific Islands).

@MRSHINYSHOES Yes, well…and what do you think of that state of affairs? You seem ready to lay at its feet the gender confusion and uncertainty of the young – what “cure” or re-reinstatement of ritual(s) would you see as being of use? I wonder myself, you see.

@throssog I don’t see a cure, because in America there is so great a range of cultures, traditions, and practices that we can’t come up with specific gender induction rituals for all. I wish there were, as I think the youth of America would benefit. The Bar Mitzvah ceremony in the Jewish community is one that comes to mind, but then again, you got to be Jewish. Maybe a bootcamp for boys? lol :)

A thought as I was doing something at my wage-slave job: Until relatively recently, people with college degrees could consider their graduation and subsequent getting of a “real job” as a sort of pale imitation of a rite of passage. But so many people are in the situation I’m in now, doing basically the same work I did in college for the same wage. Even I, who never really wanted a “real job”, have felt kinda in limbo over that. It went away when I got my other job, but only partially, and that’s seasonal.

@MRSHINYSHOES How about a ritual that is peculiarly American? Something that no other group has. What, in your estimation, makes Americans a group/tribe outside the rest? Unique and unlike any other group? Hmmm, do you see what I am driving at?

It occurs to me that, being the sort of counter-cultural rebel that I am, I might also not be the best example. :P

@incendiary_dan , You express it well, my friend. This is the condition that most exist in and an empty one it is , for those who desire more. What sort of ritual/vision quest, etc. would resolve such a state into one suitable to/for an American?

@throssog That’s gender specific? None really. I think the only thing is how American fathers raise their sons, and how American mothers raise their daughters. But that’s not really an induction ritual, more like role modelling and gender influencing which is more anomalous in nature. That’s why it’s so important for Dads to show their boys, and for Moms to show their girls, the way. Without that mental support and nurturing, kids grow up not “connecting their physical to their mental and emotional bases.” I think that’s important for kids, especially when you got all these mixed messages from the deranged gender bashing media.

Along the lines of what @MRSHINYSHOES said, I think looking at the rites of passage (interestingly enough, the name of the episode I’m streaming right now at work) before other aspects of the culture is treating the symptom. If we (re-)establish holistic cultural practices that are nurturing the children emotionally, we can address rites of passage on those terms.

I’m writing something right now about the importance of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and social constructs in terms of rewilding, and particularly in how learning those things independent of implicit domination is essential. I hadn’t thought of the importance of rites of passage in that, but now I’m starting to. Hmm.

@incendiary_dan Would it not be necessary to make any such rights of passage uniquely American? Would they not have to be such as to reinforce and inculcate the American beliefs and ideals? Would one not have to engage in some uniquely American activity to be so admitted? Could there be any other way to have rights of passage that had meaning to the American People? Just some stray thoughts.

Off the top of my head…

The first “induction into manhood or womanhood” that came to mind is is the Bar Mitzvah and the Bat Mitzvah (Judaism). This ceremony takes place at age 13 (girls 12 or 13). link

In the Hispanic tradition (for girls) is the “Quinceanera” (15th Birthday).

In some Native American cultures, there is the “Vision Quest” (when the youth will go out into the wilderness alone to return when they have had a vision).

And of course there is the traditional “coming of age” and presentation (females) to society for the upper classes of the “Debutate Ball” or “Cotillion”.

@DarlingRhadamanthus Yes, all of those and some more ethnic and class specific sorts can be mentioned…however, they aren’t all-inclusive of the American population and do not represent a uniquely American induction to that which is uniquely American as a culture. Which , of course, is the point of the exercise, hmmm?

There are plenty of rituals banging people over the head about what women and men are and the ‘awesome’ thing is, they’re all spread out from childhood to adulthood.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir Ha! Not quite the sort of ritual I had in mind. :)

@throssog….The last I knew….those were American rituals since they are practiced by Americans of various ethnicities. Your question did not specify non-ethnic based rituals that Americans share. Being an American of two of those said ethnicities I can vouch for them. I answered the question correctly, Perhaps you should have been more specific?

What exactly would an American ritual be like? More than that, can you explain what your definition of American would be according to your specifications? Did you mean a ritual for someone whose relatives fought in the American Revolution? Well, because my ancestor signed the Declaration of Independence and I still belong to two ethnic minorities mentioned above. “America” and Americans are quite multicultural, so when you attempt to put “Americans” as a separate group, with separate rituals…well, there isn’t “one type” of American like that. (I’m aware that you know this, hence your question.) Perhaps you should be more direct in exactly asking for what you are looking for?

As I said, “coming out” parties, debutante parties, sweet sixteen birthdays, baptism, confirmation, graduation, weddings. All of these are rituals that do not necessarily involve (as you said) “ethnicities” and are practiced by non-ethnic “Americans”...though we ethnic minority Americans practice them, too.

@DarlingRhadamanthus As you will, doubtless, have noted, you and I have moved into a sub-category discussion in regard to American rituals, as opposed to merely Western cultural rituals, and having done so it behooves us to be a trifle more specific in our use of terms. So: I believe that the term American, used in a cultural context, should be self explanatory. As there is multi-culturalism inherent in your response, as well as stated in it, we aren’t using the term “america” in the same context. For you, it seems, from your statements, there isn’t an “American Culture” distinct from the social acretiions of the various groups who have migrated without adopting the cultural tenets of the philosophy that the nation (as opposed to the nation-state) was founded on and are the basis of the culture that was to be America. World of difference, as I’m sure you will agree, between a society and a culture. A society connotes the mere association of individuals and groups for limited purposes and is distinct from a culture on many grounds. Rituals may be enacted within either context but social rituals haven’t, I’m given to understand, the same weight as cultural rituals. Do, please, correct me if you find me to have misunderstood you.
As to your cited examples of familial interaction with the founding – I share such ancestors and my family has been on the continent since before the 1700’s. I would submit to you that that has very little to do with the acceptance of the Culture of America. In mho, there are Americans who have never set foot on the soil of the continent and many who call themselves American who have no idea what that entails. Citizenship plays no part in it, only belief in the principles which distinguish it from any and all other cultures.
That culture has more to do with acceptance and endorsement of the principles of the founding. But I do not wish to digress and so wont.
The rituals you cite are quite common and are not, as you so state, peculiar to America. I agree. However, I would still ask: What rituals are,l and within the context of the sub-category you have chosen to speak of, peculiar to making one a member of the American culture not just the American society? A ritual practiced in a locale doesn’t make the ritual peculiar to the locale or an induction into the culture of the locale.
Has the above made any clearer to you the sub-set of rituals you and I have begun to discuss? I hope so. Perhaps you will , now, be able to see, perhaps respond to, the heart of our sub-set. I look forward to your reply.