Social change and adolescent rites of passage: A cross cultural perspective

This paper examines the role social change and modernity plays in adolescent rites of passage in developing and developed countries. The ‘Dipo’ rite of the Krobo in Ghana is compared and contrasted with the ‘Russ’ in Norway with specific reference to social change and modernity. A salient distinction in both rites of passage is the observance of a set of processes, procedures and stages adolescent undergo including, inter alia, participation in a procession characterized by a special symbolic outfit to annunciate the celebration of the rite. Adolescents in both cultures believe they are parting the adolescent stage of life and preparing to assume young adult roles. Whiles adults participate or supervise the Dipo, the Russ has nothing to do with adult supervision or participation. If an adolescent fails to participate in the Dipo she is not recognised by her family and not fit for marriage but adolescents are not subjected to this treatment should they decide not to participate in the Russ. In general both rites have undergone several positive and/or negative transformations and modifications due to social changes and modernity. This paper, thus, argues that as a result of social change and modernity adolescents have developed rites of passage in which explicit individualism is projected as a value