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February
Initiation Rites for Adolescent Boys
In this era of gangs, "drive-by" shootings, 15 year
olds killing 15 year olds, one certainly gets very
disheartened and indifferent. It's easy to put on a
"stiff upper lip" and become more cynical; simply
accept these murders as part of the package of
living in the 21st century. One can accept these
atrocities of primarily inner city youth along with
global warming, multiple wars, and now the 700
billion dollar "bail out" with the impending
recession as just the way it is.
On the other hand, there may be some real
solutions to these problems--specifically, the
unwarranted death of urban youth. One solution that
has worked for centuries prior to the industrial
revolution is the custom and ritual of youth
initiation; specifically, for adolescent boys.
Third world cultures, although not exclusive to
European cultures, have used these rites of passage
ceremonies as a way to initiate their young
adolescent boys into adulthood. Particularly among
African tribes, these ceremonies that were
participated in with enthusiasm by the boys'
mothers as well, have proved to be a significant
way to incorporate boys into the larger culture and
recognize their value as young men who can then
"give back" to the community at large.Once
initiated, these "young men" can marry, defend
their tribes, hunt with the adult men,etc. They are
given a place and standing, if you will, in the
adult community and they are honored. They know it
and believe it. Perhaps, an honoring and blessing
for not only urban youth but rural and suburban
youth as well in the USA would help significantly
in slowing down, if not eliminating the destructive
forces that plague our nation and other
industrialized nations as well.
Louise Kaplan, Ph.D. says this in her book,
Adolescence: The Farewell to Childhood "The
ceremonies for boys are frequently derived from
some idea of separation from the world of women and
children. At one or another moment over a period of
time the boy is required to give up his emotional
attachment to his mother--who weeps for him. He
becomes attached to all men. He abandons his
boyhood sports and games along with his domestic
ties to his mother. After the ceremony of severing
the bonds of childhood the boy is instructed by a
designated sponsor or group of teachers in the
duties and moral responsibilities of his
community."
Today's boys and adolescents need strong,
consistent, caring, initiated, older men as male
models. If our youth can get the mentoring and
blessings from these older men, perhaps we can turn
the tide and raise healthy adolescent boys who will
chose life and living instead of death and
destruction. I sure hope so for all of us.
©2010, Michael
Shaffran
* * *
Mike
Shaffran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and
Psychotherapist with over 30 years experience in
the mental health profession. He's worked most of
his time in outpatient Psychiatric clinics where he
has provided individual, couples/marital, family
and group therapy. He is trained in multiple
therapies, including: Psycho-dynamic,
Gestalt,Structural-Strategic Family, Solution
focused, Brief Therapy, and other methods. He is
trained in EMDR ( a type of therapy for PTSD),
hypnosis, meditation and guided imagery also. Mike
is committed to ongoing seminars, workshops and
trainings to keep current with the latest therapy
to provide the best services possible to his
clients. www.sanluisobispotherapy.com
or E-Mail
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