Introduction
When we grow out of childhood, there comes a stage in life known as adolescence. This period in an individual’s life is perceived to be the coming of age in which the individual prepares to tackle the physical, mental, and spiritual changes undertaken before adulthood. In western society, the coming of age is followed by an increase in responsibility and privilege. Whether it be caretaking of their younger kin, driving an automobile, or entering the work force, adolescence is a crucial process during the life course. My research paper will focus on different coming of age ceremonies as well as expectations for an adolescent in Jewish and Japanese cultures. The purpose of this research is to discover, analyze and critique differences throughout the adolescent communities. I will be able to demonstrate that adolescence is seen in different lights, particularly with purpose and practice within a culture. The first culture I will …show more content…
The Japanese coming of age ceremony has been greatly influenced by our western societal views because of the patriarchal pressure for males to represent professionalism. Meanwhile the females are initially expected to embody “Japaneseness”, but they do not always hold this to be true. Many Japanese women will eventually become successful and will not wear their kimono during job interviews (Goldstein-Gidoni, 1999, p. 359). Perhaps this change of attitude towards the ceremony may be the result of economic disparity between middle class men and women. This trait is seen within Jewish and Japanese societies as industrialization and the cognitive demands of a modern economy expand worldwide, the secondary function of adolescence takes on greater importance for boys and, increasingly, for girls as well (Schlegel, 1995, p.
When we grow out of childhood, there comes a stage in life known as adolescence. This period in an individual’s life is perceived to be the coming of age in which the individual prepares to tackle the physical, mental, and spiritual changes undertaken before adulthood. In western society, the coming of age is followed by an increase in responsibility and privilege. Whether it be caretaking of their younger kin, driving an automobile, or entering the work force, adolescence is a crucial process during the life course. My research paper will focus on different coming of age ceremonies as well as expectations for an adolescent in Jewish and Japanese cultures. The purpose of this research is to discover, analyze and critique differences throughout the adolescent communities. I will be able to demonstrate that adolescence is seen in different lights, particularly with purpose and practice within a culture. The first culture I will …show more content…
The Japanese coming of age ceremony has been greatly influenced by our western societal views because of the patriarchal pressure for males to represent professionalism. Meanwhile the females are initially expected to embody “Japaneseness”, but they do not always hold this to be true. Many Japanese women will eventually become successful and will not wear their kimono during job interviews (Goldstein-Gidoni, 1999, p. 359). Perhaps this change of attitude towards the ceremony may be the result of economic disparity between middle class men and women. This trait is seen within Jewish and Japanese societies as industrialization and the cognitive demands of a modern economy expand worldwide, the secondary function of adolescence takes on greater importance for boys and, increasingly, for girls as well (Schlegel, 1995, p.