Emma studies the professionals who guide people through birth and death and modern experiences of these rites of passage.
“What is a “good birth” and a “good death,” and how do medical professionals advocate for them?”
So far, I have written about the idea of the rite of passage, both in its early 20th-century context as it was applied in anthropological studies and as it is relevant to modern experiences of growth, change and social identity. My doctoral research examines the utility of this framework for understanding modern-day medicine. I am […]
Over the past few weeks, I have been consumed by packing and preparing for a move. We’re not moving far—it’s almost comically close, just around the block—but that doesn’t diminish the amount of work required. I’m no stranger to this work, having moved three times in the past two years. Every time I start making […]
In my previous blog post, I introduced the concept of “rites of passage,” first popularized by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep in 1909. “Rites of passage” can be used as a framework to explain the social importance of major life events, such as coming-of-age ceremonies, marriages, retirement parties and funerals. Childbirth is a potent example of a rite of passage; the birth of a […]
What comes to mind when you read “rite of passage”? An auditorium full of excited undergraduates throwing their square hats into the air? A sword being tapped on either shoulder of a kneeling knight? Someone having their head shaved on their first day of boot camp? A bar or bat mitzvah? Maybe a retirement party with questions […]
