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Ron Swanson
English 701
Gender and Rites of Passage
The social construction of gender is a widely debated topic in our society. Judith Lorber
states that, “the purpose of gender as a modern social institution is to construct women as a group
to be the subordinates of men as a group”(343). Lorber and many other sociologists believe that
gender roles are constructed by society, and these roles create gender inequality. Rites of passage
are another way to support Lorber’s claim. One of these examples of a rite of passage that
supports the idea of gender roles and gender inequality is the prom. The prom further supports
these claims of the social construction of gender specifically through dress codes, as well as
through the purchasing of flowers and tickets. Through the research of well-known feminists
and sociologists as well as my personal experiences, I believe I can argue that elements of gender
roles are implemented through rites of passage, specifically at the prom.
In Robbie Davis-Floyd’s, “Gender and Ritual: Giving Birth the American Way”, she
argues that giving birth in America is a rite of passage as a way of transforming women into
mothers. Giving birth, like all other rites of passages, is a series of rituals. Rituals can be
defined as patterned, repetitive enactments of cultural beliefs or values. Floyd states that, “In the
United States, through their ritual transformation during birth, women learn profound lessons
about the weakness and defectiveness of their bodies and the power of technology”(121). This
shows that in our culture, we rely heavily on technology, and this use of technology in childbirth
contributes to the further subordination of women in our society. She also states that within
these rites of passages, there are rituals that symbolize cultural messages about gender that may
normally be overlooked. For example, she uses the ritual of women being seated into
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wheelchairs once they enter the hospital and the ritual of women being put to bed. Floyd claims
that these rituals are symbolic messages of women being disabled and sick, respectively. She
also points out, “In American society, we are all dependent on institutions for our lives”(109).
This shows her idea that as Americans, we rely heavily on institutions and technology in our
lives and also it symbolizes the idea that the hospital is giving birth, rather than the woman. At
the beginning of the conclusion Floyd says, “Ritual is one major way through which
socialization can be achieved”(120). Basically, she means that rituals and rites of passage are the
norm, so society will want to conform to these norms to reach socialization. In conclusion, Davis
Floyd believes that gender roles are reinforced through cultural customs such as rituals and rites
of passage, using childbirth as an example.
In Amy Best’s, “From Prom Night: Youth, Schools and Popular Culture”, she asserts her
