Describe the function and features of puberty rites, and discuss why having these coming-of-age celebrations would be difficult in developed nations today.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Puberty rites, a frequent feature in traditional agrarian societies, mark the physical transition to adulthood in a clearly structured way. They typically involve a pubertal boy or girl being separated from the family and then performing gender-specific "adult tasks," after which the child returns to the community as a full-fledged woman or man. While these celebrations have tremendous value in that they actively teach people the skills involved in being an adult, and mark the body changes that occur during puberty, they simply wouldn't work well in developed nations. The reason is that people in the developed world reach puberty a decade or more before they socially become adults.

Describe the Function and Features of Puberty Rites, and Discuss