Van Gennep

Arnold van Gennep was a French anthropologist renowned for his work on rites of passage—ceremonies marking important life transitions. He identified that these rites typically consist of three stages: separation (detaching from the old role), transition or liminality (a period of change and uncertainty), and incorporation (adopting the new role). This framework helps explain how societies organize and give meaning to significant life events, such as birth, rites of passage into adulthood, marriage, or death. Van Gennep’s model provides insight into how cultures structure individual identity and social cohesion through these rituals.