From: cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Mythopoetic ritual (a possibly Very Weird topic)
Date: 6 Jan 1993 21:16:12 GMT
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu
Originator: muffy@remarque.berkeley.edu

In article <1993Jan5.040645.3745@Princeton.EDU> Mutant for Hire <mfterman@phoenix.princeton.EDU> writes:
>While I agree that just because another culture practices a certain
>ritual does not mean that ritual has an intrinsic value and should be
>adopted by our society, I do feel that the concepts of initiation
>rituals should be looked into more deeply. The fact that so many
>different cultures came up with this social ritual shows to me that
>there is some sort of need being fufilled here. It is interesting to
>note that many gangs have their own brands of initiation.

I am in complete agreement.  The fact that there are so few really
significant socially acceptable initiation rituals for people tends to
breed not-so-nice rituals, like drinking 21 Black Russians when you're
legal, or (I've heard this from frat boys myself, so please don't tell
me I'm making it up) getting taken into a frat and having to have sex
with either a prostitute or a minor to get accepted.

Obviously, there is a need for some kind of passage ritual for people,
*women as well as men.* 

>Women have a very visible transition from child to adult. Men lack
>that sort of event, and need to create something to mark that sort of
>change.

It's mot so good for women, either.  Imagine it -- you get your first
period, and you're really excited (provided you don't start off with
barfing and cramps like some girls I knew).  You're a *W*O*M*A*N* now,
and you feel like something momentous has happened to you.  But, what
message do you get about it?  

You have to hide it, the commercials tell you to get embarrassed about
it, the booklets tell you how it will make you have worse BO, and
sometimes if your mother is from the "old school," there's a healthy
dose of, "Well, now you have to be extra careful, because this part of
your body is not really yours, but is an enemy that can turn on you at
any minute."  One hell of a screwed-up message to send someone,
especially when they are excited about this huge alteration in their
lives and have to hide it and go on as if nothing has happened.  I would
have liked to celebrate it by wearing read clothes and having a party
instead of being told that I have to "watch myself" now.

Nowadays, I do little "rebellious" things, like wearing the same
earrings every day of my period, earrings that are little new moons --
perfect symbolically.  I refuse to hide my pads anymore, and will not
double-bag them at the supermarket.  When I walk to the women's room at
my office, I will not carry the pad as if I'm hiding it on the way
there.  I don't flaunt the fact that I'm bleeding, but I will hold it
out like anyone would hold a pack of cigarettes of a hairbrush.

Believe me, women may have a visible transition, but it's marked in a
very negative way.  We need some sort of celebratory thang, too.  

Regards,
Janis C.

There must be some kind of celebratory way of marking menarche  

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