Quinceaneras vs. Sweet 16 Parties

Paper Summary:

The paper compares the United States' and Mexico's rites of passage for teens in the form of the quinceaneras (Mexico) as compared to the "sweet 16" party (US). The paper describes the religious rite of the quinceaneras and the sweet 16 parties and relates that both are becoming spectacles of human consumption. The paper concludes that the reception part of the quinceaneras is strikingly similar to the secular sweet 16 party as the girl is brought forth into adult relationships and responsibilities.

From the Paper:

"Historical views of rites of passage for women have evolved over the years and have come to mean different things in different cultures, In early European cultures the rites of passage for women often began an ended with marriage, as it was upon her marriage that the individual girl was acknowledged as being likely to survive into adulthood and potentially produce heirs. In certain societies these rites took place at the age of 12 or even earlier (depending on the wealth and connections of the family). Yet, in the upper classes at least these young women were governed by a totally different set of rules and standards that by virtue of a logical acknowledgement that the girl had not yet reached full sexual or physical maturity, was often not fully espoused in a mature sexual relationship until much later."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Arriagada, I. (2006). Changes and Inequality in Latin American Families. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 37(4), 511.
• Baker, V. J. (2000). 4 Ritual Practice in a Sinhalese Village: Coping with Uncertainty. In The Nature and Function of Rituals: Fire from Heaven, Heinze, R. (Ed.) (pp. 59-79).
• Fay, T. J. (2005). From the Tropics to the Freezer: Filipino Catholics Acclimatize to Canada, 1972-2002. 29.
• Rankin, M. (1999, November 29). Debutantes Find Large Shoes to Fill. The Washington Times, p. 8.
• Stoertz, F. H. (2001). Young Women in France and England, 1050-1300. Journal of Women's History, 12(4), 22-46.

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