Final answer:
Events in U.S. culture that resemble rites of passage include graduation, bar or bat mitzvah, confirmation, and social debut, as they symbolize changes in social status and often follow the stages of separation, transition, and incorporation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Although no universal formal rite of passage exists in U.S. culture, certain life events can signify a transition similar to traditional rites of passage as described by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep. These events symbolize changes in an individual's life and social status. In U.S. culture, the occasions that might come close to the concept of a rite of passage include:
- Graduation
- Bar or bat mitzvah
- Confirmation
- Social debut
Graduation, in particular, matches the stages of separation, transition, and incorporation identified by van Gennep, as it signals the end of an educational chapter, a period of preparation for the future, and entering the workforce or higher education. Religious ceremonies like bar or bat mitzvahs and confirmations also serve as rites of passage, marking a person's entry into adulthood within their faith community. A social debut, though less common today, would historically mark the introduction of a young person into society. Making a sports team, albeit a significant personal achievement, is generally not considered a rite of passage as it may not involve formal societal recognition.