focus group - please participate! (1 Viewer)

[joeyann]

hello fellow SAC/SOC/whatever-you-wish-to-call-the-subject students!

i've already conducted a focus group amongst my peers and other adolescents but i was hoping to gain a wider perspective by conducting another focus group online... so please participate and tell others to join in as well! I'm aiming to get at least 10 participants!

my topic concerns 'rites of passage in Australia'... so, to start off this focus group I'd like to put up the following question:

What is your definition of a 'rite of passage'?

This focus group will be running for the next two weeks!!!

 

[joeyann]

thanks a bunch for your enthusiasm... so to get this focus group up and running... could you give your opinion on the question posted in my first post... meanwhile... i'll try find more participants to make comments as well!

thanks again!

 

[fly.away.fairy]

Rites of Passage are like the stepping stones that an individual must pass throughout their life to gain acceptance and respect in society. ?

 

[joeyann]

Just an extension on my previous question then...

do you think that because a rite of passage is described as a "rite" that the event can be identified by a particular ritual or tradition... or can a rite of passage be informal? please feel free to give reasons!

thanks again guys!

 

[Survivor39]

Everyone S&C students need to help each other out more! Contribute a little bit more to the discussions would be great, not only in helping others, but also consolidating your own knowledge.

 

[noir.]

My def of "rites of passage" - A process of socialisation. it may involve a ritual where individuals go through changes to be seen as more accepted members of society

 

[shaemitchell]

I dont think that a rite of passage has to be a ritual or tradition but since most rites of passages are based on religious or cultural beliefs they have been passed on through generation making them a tradition and thus a ritual.
i dont quite understand what you mean by a rite of passage being informal but i think because of social constructs particularly western ones most rites of passages again being based on religious or cultural beliefs have led to the need for a purpose based ceremony, party etc. Just because a birthday party is low key like in maccas or something still means its a marking point of the next part in a persons life. On the other hand a rite of passage mioght go uncelebrated like losing virginity etc. Its still a rite of passage but tgeres no party or ceremony for it. Unless you want to class a wedding as that.
i dont know hope that helps.

 

[joeyann]

thanks for joining! since not many other people are joining, i guess i'll write my next question:

Do you believe that the 18th birthday has lost its significance in Australian society as a rite of passage for adolescents (i.e possibly due to priveliges, such as alcohol, being experienced before turning 18)?

Feel free to expand on previous questions as well as this one!

 

[WTF!bbq]

I'll jump in. I think that turning 18 is still a fairly big rite of passage, atleast amongst my peer group people look forward to it and when the time comes they throw the traditional party-in-a-pub or whatever. But it's certainly true that most people are experiencing alcohol at a much earlier age. An 18th bday is however an opportunity to share that experience with one's friends and family, it removes that stigma of teenage alcoholism (not to mention it being illegal and everything). And to go in the other direction, most 18 or 19 year olds I know aren't automatically considered "adults" just because they've reached a certain age whereas in the past they might have been.

As for the previous question, rites of passage can definitely be informal, even possibly a completely private experience (as shaemitchell pointed out, losing ones virginity). Which calls into question whether it's solely about someone's status being changed in society or their identity and self-perception shifting.

I don't know if this helps, I hope it does! Sorry if it sounds a little bit insane >_<

 

[joeyann]

thanks heaps for your participation! you present an interesting point! please keep checking this forum for updates guys and feel free to comment on other people's comments... it'll help get a discussion going...

another question guys, do you think that there is one common rite of passage for all Australian adolescents? sure there are many personal ones (losing virginity as aforementioned) but are there ones that are recognised by the wider society as common to all adolescents?

keep the comments coming!

jo~an

 

[mottowa]

hey. ill help!

i think rites of passage are things you go through to reach the next stage in your life. I believe theyr socially constructed by the society in which u live and they determine how you should act, what rights you have, what responsibilities u have etc.


I dont think turning 18 has lost THAT much significance because although we do still have underage drinking etc. its always a big risk 2 get into clubs etc. I think that when u turn 18 it is important as you can do all of these things risk free. U also have to vote and ur no longer considered an adult and technically u can do adult things [like having ur own account at the video shop etc] that under 18's cant have. Its more independace from parents etc.

hope this helps!

 

[joeyann]

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!

guys who are already in this focus group, feel free to comment on other people's comments! you can criticise as much as you want! (it's virtually anonymous!) but lets keep it PG ok!! hehe... thanks again for participating! keep the conversation going!!!

jo~an

 

[fattyma]

heya jo!

personally i would have to say i agree with mottowa that there is still a common rite of passage that exists in australia for teenagers such a turning 18 however it is not as significant as it was it in the past. under 18s do some things that you're legally allowed to do once you turn 18 such as buying and drinking alcohol due and this makes the whole big deal of trying certain things once you turn 18 unimportant. despite this, there are still some rites of passages that exist (such as attending school for the first timeor maybe you could even say completing high school and the HSC!) that are still quite significant for all australians since you can't experience it earlier in life than you should.

overall i would say that there arent any rites of passages that australian society recognises due to the fact that aussie teens can experience things before they actually should (as i said above) and also since australia is a multicultural society there are some rites of passages that are important for some cultures that arent for others so this helps contribute to my answer to your question.

good luck!

 

[just-a-stranger]

are there rites of passage that are recognised by the wider society as common to all adolescents?

YES! i believe getting ur P's licence goes under this. although there are people who drive without one.. makin it legal is still a big thing..

 

[joeyann]

thanks for that guys! , well my final draft for my PIP is due next week, so i guess i'd better wrap things up... so here's my last question!

Do you believe schoolies week is a rite of passage? Is this seen positively by society and does this opinion detract from its significance?

i know thats a bit of a mouthful, so if you understand it, please answer!

thanks again!

jo~an

 

[WTF!bbq]

Definitely not seen as positive by older generations, IMO. It varies amongst adolescents - some of them adore the idea, some look down on it, some are a bit "meh" about it. I think I fit into this last category - the whole drugs/alcohol/shady behaviour thing is a big concern. For that reason I personally don't see it as a rite of passage (for myself, anyway), but then, my definition varies to the next person's. And really, which definition wins? If someone sees said event as a rite of passage in their life, and believe it marks a change in their status or role as individuals within society, then I suppose that yeah, it would have to count as a rite of passage - to some degree, anyway.
At the same time I think the negative connotations attached to Schoolies week does make it more recognised as a rite of passage - the fact that an adolescent has been allowed to go to schoolies despite all the naughtiness pretty much symbolises their transition into adulthood (or the lenience of their parents )

Sorry it's all funny sounding! Im just writing whatever comes to mind here. Hope it helps! Your pip sounds cool btw, if I didn't mention that before.

Regards,
Dani

 

[joeyann]

Definitely not seen as positive by older generations, IMO. It varies amongst adolescents - some of them adore the idea, some look down on it, some are a bit "meh" about it. I think I fit into this last category - the whole drugs/alcohol/shady behaviour thing is a big concern. For that reason I personally don't see it as a rite of passage (for myself, anyway), but then, my definition varies to the next person's. And really, which definition wins? If someone sees said event as a rite of passage in their life, and believe it marks a change in their status or role as individuals within society, then I suppose that yeah, it would have to count as a rite of passage - to some degree, anyway.
At the same time I think the negative connotations attached to Schoolies week does make it more recognised as a rite of passage - the fact that an adolescent has been allowed to go to schoolies despite all the naughtiness pretty much symbolises their transition into adulthood (or the lenience of their parents )

Sorry it's all funny sounding! Im just writing whatever comes to mind here. Hope it helps! Your pip sounds cool btw, if I didn't mention that before.

Regards,
Dani

yeh, i get what you mean about the negative connotations associated with schoolies week. i myself am going to schoolies, but instead of heading up to queensland, a few close friends of mine and i are going up to nelsons bay. i don't see it as a rite of passage as i dont feel im actually gaining higher status or recognition within society or moving from one stage of my life to another (i think the HSC will do that for me, rather than schoolies), however i do feel a need to spend what will probably be the last time i see my school friends in a place away from home... its a rite of passage to some extent

thanks for your input!

jo~an