Prom as a Rite of Passage

Cody Guilday English 105 Prof. Wheat 10/22/12 The Senior amble A Rite of Passage The United States is cognize through bring pop the world to be a place in which thither ar many cultures and customs mixing and colliding. One thing that all told(prenominal) culture has in abundance is religious rites of passing game, whether it is Births, Bat Mitzvahs, Quinces, or graduation. Each pay of passage is an event that signifies a transition in a several(prenominal)s life. Senior saunter is a rite of passage for progeny men and women that is indicative of their transition from teenagers to young adults.It is meant to be a rejoicing of the high school experience the last hurrah. A gathering of friends who go for spent four geezerhood of their adolescence together, figuring out who they be as persons. The reason perambulation has run such a rite of passage as opposed to just another dance, comes from the notion that it is an event that cannot be missed. When referring to the h igh school experience, stroll and graduation be the two events that be most commonly brought up. They are universal to all graduated students, barely unique to each individual.The identity operator of the individual as macrocosm a quit of their graduating class is why the saunterenade is so cardinal. Although mall is intend to be an all-inclusive experience, the event has become factionalized due to materialism, social status, and willingness to embark in consumption of inebriant. The fact that prom has become commercialized is causing some to be excluded from certain aspects of the prom and sometimes from the entire prom event. The prom event is supposed to include everyone in the graduating class.But the increased damages and preoccupancy on the material aspect is leaving out those who are futile to afford it. In Ann Andersons High School promenade Marketing, Morals, and the American Teen, she points to prom magazines and other advertisers similar Seventeen as th e reason for mercantilism in proms (119). She also states that the modal(a) amount spent for prom per family in America in 2010 was intimately 1000 dollars (115). According to an article from the Huffington Post, the prom industry is valued at four billion dollars. Additionally, the article claimed that the average amount spent on prom this ear in the north-east region was just shy of two thousand dollars (Krupnick). Prices like these are far out of the reach of many families, which leaves them with only a hardly a(prenominal) options. whatsoever parents decide that the event is so outstanding that they will reach beyond their means for the sake of their childrens prom. Others receive to take this price tag into consideration. In this case, the students are often leave out of things like limo rides, pictures, and later on parties. Although they are still part of the prom itself, they are left out of much of what is important to the prom experience. world left out of these aspects can have an impairing affect on the individuals sense of identity. It is not just the fact that they are left out the limo ride or the aft(prenominal) party. When asked about the event, or when it is talked about later, they are unable to partake in much of the conversation. This is also confessedly for those who do not partake in the prom at all because of the price. Although this is less common, many consider the price of proms to be too steep. lacking(p) the prom is considered a grand deal socially and could be mischievous to the identity of the individual as the confederacy sees it.Over the years, the focus of prom has shifted from the elegant, amatory event it once was to a concentration on teenage alcohol consumption, drug use, and sex. In Ann Andersons book High School Prom Marketing, Morals, and the American Teen, Ann gives a detailed account of the history of the prom event. She claims that prom was originally created to be the democratic de hardlyante bal l, referring to an elegant event, which is kindly to all careless(predicate) of economic status (Anderson 7). Although originally this may have been the case, it is clear that it is no longer the case today.For starters, as seen in the beginning, prom is no longer accessible to all. Although the event itself is still very elegant, the focus has been shifted. It has become a social competition. Many prom-goers worry more about the after party than the event. They see the prom as a stepping stone to the after party, where they are able to drink, do drugs, and have sex without creation seen by the prying eyes of parents. This further divides the senior group. On one founder on that point are those who want to drink, do drugs, and have sex.On the other hand, there are people who would like to be included in the after party in order to get the entire prom experience, but are excluded because they do not drink. For these people who are excluded, the identity of being part of a larger , inclusive community is often ruined. Additionally, it adds to the individual identity as a partier or non-partier often at the expense of those who make out not to drink or do drugs. According to The National route Safety Administration, 53% of students reported to have had more than 4 drinks (Prom Night Statistics).That splits a given senior class almost direct down the middle. But the divide is not just based on alcohol. Because the whole senior class cannot attend the same after party, it becomes a matter of social status. This is perhaps the most divisive aspect of the prom and the most destabilizing to the identity of certain individuals. It boils down to two types of people those who are invited, and those who are not. The community sees those who are not invited as less important and the individuals see themselves in a similar way because of this.Popularity is a huge part of ones identity, especially in high school. Being that prom is one of the biggest nights of high sc hool, being invited to pre-pictures or the after party is the ultimate show of popularity. In contrast to this, not being invited could mischievously affect the identity of an individual in a negative way. Some show that the prom event itself is still one that is inclusive for all, regardless of social or economical status. Although the event is advertised and intended to be this way, the fact is, societal pressures do not allow it.People may argue that there is a cheap way to go to prom without limos, high-priced tuxedos or dresses, and no after party. It is plausible to do this but, because of social detection of prom, many feel that they would be marginalized if they did not have all of these aspects. Movies and telly portrays the prom event as one in which it is necessary to be lavish. For people who do not have the means to do this, or do not wish to partake in after parties, the prom event becomes undesirable.The rite of passage of Senior Prom is highly important to all h igh school students. It is one that is looked forward to long before senior year and it is one that is talked about long after graduation. Although it is meant to be an event for the entire Senior Class, many are left out of the experience because a lack of social or economic status. non being a part of this event, or certain aspects of this event, causes to the individual to drop off the identity of being a part of something greater.It is not just being a part of a senior class that is important to this rite of passage, but it is being a part of the social and educational community that is unique to their specific senior class. This feeling of being a part of a unique community is built up over the years and culminates at the senior prom. Exclusion from any part of this event causes individual to lose their sense of identity as a part of this community. kit and caboodle Cited Anderson, Ann. High School Prom Marketing, Morals, and the American Teen. Jefferson, NC McFarland &, 201 2. Print. Krupnick, Ellie. Prom Dresses, Prom Hairstyles, Prom Makeup How Much Does Prom 2012 Cost? The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost. com, 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. Prom Night Statistics. Statistic Brain. N. p. , n. d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. . Works Consulted Best, Amy L. Prom Night Youth, Schools, and Popular Culture. refreshing York Routledge, 2000. Print. Fleischer, Myra C. Expensive Proms Increase Pressure on Teens to Have Sex. Washington time Communities. The Washington Times, 25 May 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.