An initiation ritual is a rite that marks the crossing of a spiritual, symbolic or social threshold. They are described by Arnold van Gennep as « rites which accompany every change of place, state, social position and age. ». This transition from one condition or state to another becomes concrete through various ceremonies specific to each societies and are fundamental to the a full development of a community and to the construction of its members’ identity. These rituals are performed according to prescribed customs, traditions and social rules and constitue a central component in African traditional societies and cultures, but not only. They are, among others things, supposed to protect individuals and their societies from supernatural dangers.
Rituals are therefore considered in these societies as a « natural procedure » in order to become a full « sexualized » member of the society : Initiation traditionally takes place before puberty and transforms a girl into a respectable and marriageable woman and a boy into a tough and strong man. According to Luktkenhaus and Strather, two anthropologists, « These rites are concerned with promoting the transition of boys and girls from an androgynous state of childhood to the gendered and hence sexuality differentiated, state of masculine or feminine adulthood ». However female initiation is accompanied by more ambivalent feelings than male initiations especially because of the practice of female genital cutting, which is usually far more radical than male circumcision. There is a sort of « emotional package » around initiation : The fact that the actual content of initiation rituals are very vague for non-initiated explains that their fears are less important than the desire to be accepted into the community, to be marriageable or the fear to endure pressure or discrimination for not being initiated. In reality once initiated the hardness of pain
Thus in many cultures circumcision is practiced to prepare the initiates to the responsibilities of manhood and to test their bravery and strength. Indeed circumcision is done by traditional circumcisers in non-medical and unhygienic circumstances and generally without anesthesia which engender dreadful pain that obviously escalates with the age at which circumcision is done. In some cultures it is even considered that the death of male initiates because of circumcision is simply an opportunity « to weed out the weak » that wouldn’t have been able to make a useful contribution to the society anyways. We may consider this as a « natural » social selection and stratification. Pain is also an integral part of initiation for women as it is seen as preparation for childbirth pain and told to demonstrate