Using anthropological language, a debut is a ritual to celebrate a woman’s 18th birthday and her crossover to adulthood. Some debuts are even as grand as weddings. In its most simplest definition, debuts are birthday celebrations–but on steroids.
I discovered that while this tradition has a deep patriarchal history and tends to pigeonhole women into one type of feminine ideal, it also serves political, social, and emotional functions to those who celebrate it in the present day.ĭebuts are a tradition and a norm, and as always, I like questioning traditions and norms, exploring what they really mean, and figuring out how we can break out of them if we want to. Why? What’s with women and coming of age? But to all these, I ask: why don’t men have it to that extent too? Granted, there are 21st debuts for men, but these are so rare and much less glamorous. Debuts can be a contentious topic some say it’s a waste of time and money while others say they just want to feel like a princess for one night. These events are often lavish, prepared months or even years in advance, and no doubt a real hoot. I’ve been to a couple of debuts but didn’t have one myself due to a personal preference. Debuts were a huge deal when I was growing up. I didn’t realize that 18th birthday debuts were just a Filipino thing until I went to Canada, where none of my friends have ever heard of it.
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