Wrongs and Rights of Passage

In college literature today we read an essay called Wrongs of Passage and while I agreed with many of the author’s points I have a problem with some of the others. She has the structure correct separation, transition, and incorporation—that’s how a right of passage should be conducted and if it doesn’t it isn’t really a right of passage. She focused on a few examples: sweet sixteen, turning eighteen, turning twenty-one, marriage, the Navajo Changing Woman ceremony, and the one of boys in New Guinea. The ones of America she disagreed with because they have been corrupted into meaning little and being superficial. I agree with her about them being superficial but I don’t agree that they are even rights of passage (except for marriage but I’ll mention that later). None of those first three in the list go through any of the steps, you aren’t separated from anything and nothing changes however there are many that actually are. I believe Marriage is one of these, you are separated from single life then transition into married life then settle into and incorporate marriage, yes you can get married in Vegas or get married without family or friends there but I think rights of passage are about the journey and the personal meaning rather than being there for the community. Another actual right of passage of the American people is graduation/going to college/moving out of parents’ house, I count them as the same thing because it happens at a different point for most people but it is an important part in growing up. You are separated from most of your family and friends and high school, transition by moving away and/or going to college, and incorporate into your daily life.

As I already stated I think going to college is a right of passage and it is one that I will be undertaking quite soon and it scares me as well as makes me excited for the future as a right of passage should do.