Identity Formation



Identity Formation

Introduction

The rite of passage can be extenuated as a ritual marking the change of social status or sex of an individual, the most commonly puberty but also for other events such as birth or menopause. The ritual is most often embodied by a ceremony. This study aims to expound the common rites of passage of American culture along with two different cultures around the world and how rites of passage coincide with the physical, cognitive and socio-emotional changes occurred during that transition time from childhood to the adolescence. However, the successful transition also enables the adolescent to achieve the sense of identity.

Rites of Passage

American Culture

The modern American culture has some common rites of passage that include the beginning of high school, turning sixteen, getting a driver's license, turning eighteen, getting a driving license, and landing first job etc (Richards, 2009). However, the Native American societies publicly celebrate girls' first menstruation as the ritual where parents proudly announce to the community about beginning of menstruation and becoming the women. The rites of passage has the significant impact over the adolescent as they experience a major change during their transitory period specially females have apparently much more strong influence as if we consider the physical changes in adolescence when they enter into the puberty. Girls normally become more aware of their physical attractiveness due to the major enhancement in their body and their obtaining of menstruation. They experience a significant swing in their emotions due to biological changes (puberty), cognitive changes where they are more likely to respond with logics, social changes where they want independence and self identity, and maturational changes (Santrock, 2009). It is common in American culture that during the rites of passage, the boys and girls both start involving in the romantic relationships and ...