Chapter 7 Adolescence & R

Adolescence: How We See and Adolescence: How We See and Celebrate This Stage of the Life Celebrate This Stage of the Life

CycleCycle

Questions About How We See Questions About How We See Adolescence…Adolescence…

• Is every generation of youth getting worse Is every generation of youth getting worse than the last?than the last?

• Has our social planning been wrong, and Has our social planning been wrong, and our society is deeply disordered?our society is deeply disordered?

• Do we prolong the maturation of young Do we prolong the maturation of young people far too long, cultivating people far too long, cultivating irresponsibility and rebellion?irresponsibility and rebellion?

Quote about youth…Quote about youth…

• ““The children now love luxury; they have bad The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they allow manners, contempt for authority; they allow disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.tyrannize their teachers.””

Sexual MaturationSexual Maturation

• Sexual maturationSexual maturation (the ability (the ability to produce children) is the to produce children) is the physiological cue that begins physiological cue that begins the transformation from child to the transformation from child to adult.adult.

• However, usually lack strength / However, usually lack strength / stamina / mastery of technical stamina / mastery of technical and social skills to assume full and social skills to assume full economic / social economic / social responsibilities required of a responsibilities required of a husband / parent.husband / parent.

AdolescenceAdolescence

• So a transition So a transition period called period called adolescenceadolescence was was created for this in-created for this in-between stage of the between stage of the lifecycle.lifecycle.

Adolescence As a Period of Adolescence As a Period of TransitionTransition

• Duration of adolescence Duration of adolescence depends on the social-depends on the social-cultural characteristics of the cultural characteristics of the society.society.

• Was not always recognized Was not always recognized in industrialized societies; in industrialized societies; was invented for economic was invented for economic reasons.reasons.• Unable to find work, teens Unable to find work, teens

sometimes ended up getting sometimes ended up getting into trouble on the streets.into trouble on the streets.

Adolescence in CanadaAdolescence in Canada

• In Canada adolescence can last from In Canada adolescence can last from 12 – 19, usually adolescents are 12 – 19, usually adolescents are separated from adults in various ways.separated from adults in various ways.

Coming of Age RitualsComing of Age Rituals

• Can you think of any rituals that signify Can you think of any rituals that signify adulthood in our society?adulthood in our society?

Adolescence in Pre-Industrial Adolescence in Pre-Industrial Societies Societies

• In some hunting / gathering societies, adolescence In some hunting / gathering societies, adolescence is a relatively short period, if it exists at all.is a relatively short period, if it exists at all.

Adolescence in Pre-Industrial Adolescence in Pre-Industrial SocietiesSocieties

• !Kung people consider a !Kung people consider a female a woman once she female a woman once she has reached menarche, and has reached menarche, and has had a short coming of has had a short coming of age ceremony.age ceremony.

• Males are considered men Males are considered men after they kill their 1after they kill their 1stst buck buck and participate in a coming and participate in a coming of age ritual that lasts a few of age ritual that lasts a few days.days.

Adolescence in Pre-industrial Adolescence in Pre-industrial SocietiesSocieties

• In many pre-industrial societies In many pre-industrial societies initiation ritesinitiation rites are often are often elaborate and mean as much to elaborate and mean as much to the community as they do to the the community as they do to the individual. They:individual. They:• Ensure that the group will survive Ensure that the group will survive

as its traditions are passed on.as its traditions are passed on.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BoNmpvkavo

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y

• Link between Link between family and family and community.community.

• Link is formed Link is formed with the past, with the past, since initiates go since initiates go through the same through the same rituals that their rituals that their parents and parents and grandparents did. grandparents did.

Adolescence in Pre-industrial Adolescence in Pre-industrial SocietiesSocieties

• There are a number of common There are a number of common threads that exist in many of threads that exist in many of these ceremonies in pre-these ceremonies in pre-industrial societies.industrial societies.

1.1. Symbolic death and rebirth.Symbolic death and rebirth.2.2. Isolation of the initiate.Isolation of the initiate.3.3. Physical changes.Physical changes.4.4. Cleansing.Cleansing.5.5. Tests of endurance, Tests of endurance,

bravery or competence.bravery or competence.6. Teaching and learning.6. Teaching and learning.7. Community and sharing of food.7. Community and sharing of food.

Liminality and Becoming a Liminality and Becoming a SoldierSoldier

• Read pages 211 – 212 and answer questions Read pages 211 – 212 and answer questions 1 – 3.1 – 3.