Talcott Parsons argued that ‘youth’ only emerged as a life stage between childhood and adulthood due to changes in wider society. In pre-capitalist societies,
the transition between childhood and adulthood was often marked by a single rite of passage. Rites of passage therefore (traditionally) marked a clear
move from childhood to adulthood; hence, traditionally in many cultures there was no long drawn out transitional period of ‘youth’.
The following article outlines some examples of rites of passage that will promote some useful discussion points amongst students:
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After reading these examples, students can consider the ways in which and extent to which it can be argued that rites of passage are a feature in the lives of British young people.
Tim Lott’s Guardian article located here:
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who work with young men to promote positive social and individual change.
Based on the material they have learned about rites of passage, students could work in small groups as government ‘task forces’ - charged with creating an official rite of passage for young British men and/or women.
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