Final answer:
Rites of passage are ceremonies marking an individual's transition between social statuses, involving three stages: separation, transition, and incorporation, as defined by Arnold van Gennep.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of rites of passage pertains to special rituals that signify the transition of individuals from one social status to another within a community. Grounded in anthropological research, these rituals typically include three key stages: separation, transition (liminality), and incorporation. Arnold van Gennep, an early 20th-century anthropologist, first conceptualized these stages. During separation, individuals are detached from their current roles in society. The ensuing transition is a period of ambiguity where they are taught new roles or knowledge, often through structured ceremonies. Finally, incorporation marks the formal acceptance and recognition of their new roles within society.
Examples of rites of passage include initiation rituals in African societies, where young people undergo a transformation to adulthood, including specific instruction and often body modifications such as tattooing or scarifying. In Western contexts, ceremonies like weddings, graduations, and namesake ceremonies also serve as rites of passage. These events underscore an individual's change in status - for instance, from single to married, student to graduate, or child to adult with a socially recognized name. Each rite reflects the values and norms of the society in which it occurs and is marked by cultural symbols and teachings that are significant within that community.