Olivia+Love+inquiry

Potential Topics:
==== I have always been intrigued by the ways and rituals of other cultures. In the United States we are so set in ways, like when you graduate from high school most people go to some form of college. In the College of Education we learn about valuing other cultures and diversity; therefore, for my Inquiry Project I want to explore the rites and rituals of other cultures around the world. I particularly want to look at the rituals and ways that other cultures celebrate adolescence. Do they have a particular ceremony? Do they treat adolescents as adults? What's the difference between adolescent females and adolescent males? I am not sure if this is too broad of a topic, but I definitely think it would be something interesting for me personally, as well as my future students. Another topic that I find intriguing is gender, and how it's portrayed in popular culture. Last year Dr. Young showed us a documentary about gender in advertising, and ever since then I haven't been able to look at a commercial or listen to a rap song without thinking of the deeper message. ====

Questions:
What are the gender roles in African cultures, and how do they relate to rites of passage? (first question) What are the rituals of African tribes, and how do these rituals reflect the gender roles? (revised question)

Resources:
[] Book: African Initiates: Rites of Passage Through the Eyes of an Initiate by: Shakkmah Windrum. This is an a reflection of rites of passage and initation practices from the poi nt of view of a former initiate. Many of the practices that she participated in, still take place today.

Papers: (First Draft: before peer review) (Draft with Peer Reviewer's Comments) (Final Paper) (final draft)