Final answer:
The striking similarity between initiation rites of tribal and fraternal societies is that both ceremonies mark a transition from one social status to another, emphasizing certain secret or exclusive elements during the process. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
A striking similarity between initiation rites of tribal and fraternal societies is that both mark a transition from one social status to another. This aligns with the options provided and corresponds to option D. These rites consist of a series of ceremonies, symbolizing the participant's movement from one phase of life or social position to another.
Anthropologist Arnold van Gennep identified the three stages of these passages as separation, transition, and incorporation. The transition often includes activities, teachings, or challenges that are secret or exclusive to the initiates, reinforcing group cohesion and ensuring that the participants emerge with a new status recognized by the rest of the society.
For instance, in many traditional societies, initiation rituals could signify the passage from childhood to adulthood. During these ceremonies, initiates might receive teachings on practical skills, sacred knowledge, or the social expectations of their new roles.
In fraternal organizations, similar processes involve pledging, tests of loyalty, and imparting the society's values and secrets. In both cases, the ultimate goal is to create a shared identity among the members and establish their place within the social structure.