van Gennep (Arnold van Gennep)

Arnold van Gennep was a French ethnographer who introduced the concept of rites of passage, describing the structured ceremonies that mark important life transitions—such as birth, puberty, marriage, and death. He identified that these rituals have three key stages: separation (leaving behind previous social roles), transition (a liminal, in-between phase), and incorporation (reintegrating into society with a new status). His framework helps explain how cultures symbolically manage change and identity shifts, providing insight into how societies maintain social cohesion during significant life events.