Part I: Discuss what rituals of transition you think are important in U.S. life (or within the culture you grew up in).

Rituals of transition in United States culture are very modern in a sense that they are subtle. Often, the rites of passage that one may experience in the US are not necessarily considered as such, but rather just “a part of life”. When I think of rites of passage, what comes to mind are ceremonies that mark the exact transition from one phase of life to the next. However, this doesn’t always have to be the case.

The first major ritual of transition in a child’s life is their first day of school. This is the day that children leave the home to begin their twelve or so years of education. It is important to note that this is most likely the child’s first experience with separation from their parents. In addition to beginning grade school, there is also the end; high school graduation. One could consider this another important ritual of transition because it signifies the transition from student to adult. Between this time of starting school and graduating, there are some other rites of passage that are signified by age. For example, turning sixteen, one may earn their driver’s license, signifying ones first taste of freedom from the home. Turning eighteen is also highly regarded as the point at which children become legal adults. This is usually the age at which children leave their childhood home and go to university or begin work. Years down the line, marriage and having children of one’s own are also important rituals of transition. The both signify addition of responsibility and adulthood. Even further down the life line, retirement is another big transition in life. This is when one exits the work force and enters a “vacation period”.

Part II: What rituals of transition have you gone through yourself? How did you feel about going through the ritual at the time? How do you feel about it now, looking back at that moment?

Most of the rituals of transition that I mentioned in Part I, I have gone through myself (excluding marriage, children and retirement). While I did have my first day of school, I do not remember that day, so I will not be able to comment on that. However, I do remember turning sixteen and eighteen, as well as graduating high school, and entering college. Each of these points in my life signified something important along my timeline.

Turning sixteen marked an important ritual of transition for me, as it does for many teenagers in US culture. This age meant that I could now take my driver’s test, earn my driver’s license and drive on my own without parental guidance. I remember being very excited about getting my driver’s license because I knew that it guaranteed a slice of freedom. I no longer needed to ask for rides because I could take myself. Reflecting upon this time in my life, it now seems a little silly. In hindsight, I didn’t have that much freedom because I wasn’t completely on my own yet. However, at that time, it meant a great deal to me.

My eighteenth birthday was also another significant ritual of transition. In legal terms, this meant I was no longer bound by my parent’s rules. In symbolic terms, this meant I was an adult who could now make her own rules. This birthday also happened to closely coincide with high school graduation, moving out of the house and beginning university. All of these events in conjunction meant that I was on my own. I was now able to write my rules and begin an independent life. Reflecting upon this transition, I understand why I was so excited. I was entering unknown territory and it marked a new beginning for me.

Part III: Discuss the idea of belonging-liminality-belonging (See the “Rituals and Rites of Passage” video) as it relates to your college experience up to this point. What are some of the implicit and explicit messages you have received about how a college woman or man should behave based on their gender?

In terms of my transition from home life with parents to independent living in college, there are aspects of the belonging-liminality-belonging idea that I can relate to. For eighteen years I belonged with my parents in their home, under their supervision and guidance. However, up until a few weeks before I started university, and even a few months into my first semester, I was in a period of liminality. During this time, I was adjusting to independent living but still had the mindset of a high school student. I had just graduated high school, and was adjusting to my new label as an adult. However, over time as I acclimated to the college environment, I felt as though I started to belong again.

Implicit messages are more common in terms of how a college woman or man should behave based on their gender. For example, how college men and women should dress when they go out to parties. Women can be expected to dress more provocatively while men are expected to dress very casually. Or how actively a woman should participate in a group project of all males. Even when one is declaring their major, some courses of study are regarded as more masculine or more feminine. An explicit example is the joining of sororities and fraternities because those groups specifically designate who is allowed to participate. Another is the specific designation of male and female floors in residence halls. This explicitly says that one gender is not really welcome onto the other gender’s floor.