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Tender Transitions

Rites of passage mark girls’ journey to adulthood

From ancient to modern times, societies have designed rites of passage from childhood to adult womanhood with common threads: The ceremonies occur at puberty. Older mentors educate girls to their new roles and responsibilities. Community members take part in the rituals. The events involve spiritual or religious training.

In the Latino culture the custom is known as the quinceañera, or “the 15th year” tradition, which dates back to Aztec teachings. The modern celebration usually involves a Catholic Mass.

In the Navajo world the four-day ceremony is called Kinaaldá, which in the Diné language means, “You are a woman now.” Kinaaldá springs from the Navajos’ spiritual view of the origins of their people.

The Valley’s African American community calls their process, simply, “Rite of Passage,” a 15-week program that explores the concept of womanhood in Africa.

Traditions are events without change, but change is inevitable, especially in urban settings. Double-digit divorce rates eat away at the foundation formerly provided by families. Gangsta Rap music spews lyrics that degrade women as “ho’s.” Movies portray women as sex objects.

“Images that young women see and hear are of women who think more of the physical rather than spiritual self,” says Fatimah Halim, executive director of Life Paradigms, a nonprofit in Phoenix. She founded the Rite of Passage program in 1996.

“Nothing they see tells them they are spiritual and emotional beings, too. Nothing is truly promoting our (African American and Latino) cultures in a way that is doing anything for our self worth.”

In addition, some businesses see big profits in cultural rites of passage. They take special aim at the fast-growing population of Hispanic consumers.

Walt Disney World Resort recently announced “Disney designed quinceañeras,” packages it is marketing to the Latino family market. The corporation estimates that more than a million Latinas turn 15 each year. The “Bell of the Ball” package includes high-end amenities such as an elaborate tiered cake, horsedrawn carriages, cavorting Disney characters, and a grand ballroom for groups of 100 or more – all starting at $20,000, or about the same amount as a down payment on a house. (To find out more, visit http://Disneyworld.com/quinceanera.)

Spanish-language media wants to cash in on Hispanic traditions, too. The popular Show de Cristina on the Univision Spanish-language network aired a special edition titled, A Dream Come True Quinceañera in partnership with Disney World on May 28. Host Cristina Saralegui was the madrina (godmother) of the “enchanted celebration.”

(Calls by Latino Perspectives to Disney for comment were not returned by press time.)

However, a Chandler woman who threw her daughter, Kathryn Flores, a quinceañera last year was appalled at the Disney commercialization of the tradition.

“That’s completely outrageous. That’s just too much. I don’t know what Disney has to do with quinceañeras in the first place. I don’t think that’s what Walt Disney had in mind when he created it,” says Dana Marie Flores.

“That’s completely losing focus on the purpose. If I was going to spend $20,000 on my daughter, I’d save it for her college.”

Cora Maxx-Phillips, a Navajo who celebrated Kinaaldá, says many young women today don’t truly understand the power of a rite of passage.

“What it boils down to, these ceremonies have big roots in your culture that spell out your identity and your heritage. For those who are acculturated, it holds even more meaning,” she says.

“If we don’t have cultural safeguards and boundaries, we begin to adopt junky values. We want these young women to become strong woman leaders later on.”