Fishing - Male Bonding & Rituals
In Australia, as summer approaches we look at fishing and
masculine traditions.
Conducting 'men's secret business' or feeling an urge to
carry on a tradition by taking your mates or kids fishing?
What does western culture have to say about male bonding?
Male bonding and friendships tend to develop around shared
activities and ambitions, and there are a number of reasons that men's fishing
activities align with the classical anthropological concepts of ritual and
rites of passage.
Tradition, Rituals & Rites
Traditions and rituals can encourage social cohesion and
unity with some having developed from a need to negotiate or mediate social
tension. Often traditions and rituals
are used as a means of marking an individual's transition from one status to
another, such as coming of age or embarking on something new (new job, getting
married, etc.) A common term used is
'rite of passage' often wrongly referred to as a 'right of passage', it comes
from 'rite' meaning 'a ritual of passage'.
Sociologist Victor Turner (1995) theorised 'rite of passage' as a space between the past and existing and future or impending milestones. The rite presents an opportunity to create, renew and redefine social order and is often used to provide guidance for an individual's development and to help establish an affiliation with or inclusion within a group, community or society. As well as encouraging social relations, rituals can help regulate behaviour and develop identity. Rituals generally incorporate everyday activities to demonstrate hierarchies, beliefs and values.
Fishing as a rite of passage activity has been utilised in
both ancient and contemporary societies to celebrate important transitions.
French sociologist Emile Durkheim described activities such as rituals as
serving to promote feelings of collectivism, a sense of belonging and 'bringing
together'. Ritual activities can relate to any type of group with a shared
focus. They may consist of symbolic
behaviour and forming sacred bonds, fitting in with the general theory of
acceptance and socialisation, and are most commonly seen in religious
ceremonies.
Bonding
In western cultures, fishing is often utilised as a means of
bonding between father & son, friends or colleagues. Fishing was
traditionally favoured by men with many being introduced to fishing by their
fathers, uncles, brothers or male friends. Taking young people fishing can be
an opportunity to introduce new skills, knowledge and inspire a healthy
interest that may last a lifetime. For friends and colleagues, fishing provides
a tool to celebrate achievements and enhance camaraderie.
Fishing is often used to embrace gender division whilst
part-taking in meaningful and symbolic activity i.e. men being men. Gender
division often happens subconsciously, for example, an Australian BBQ where men
instinctively take up the tongs and turn the meat whilst the women take care of
the accompaniments. These behaviours embrace
the theory of division by adopting arcane gender roles i.e. the male as hunter
and female as gatherer.
Gender
Gender division is not unhealthy but rather an
opportunity for defining typical gender behaviour. Used in father/son bonding, it allows the
younger to identify with their maleness encouraged by the father 'role
model'. It provides an opportunity for
parental guidance, discussion, sharing and observation of unique aspects of
maleness including: demonstrating emotional and psychological behaviour, understanding
moral and physical changes, gender responsibilities, and man's nurturing role
as parent. Learning to be masculine is
basically about proving you are 'not female' and the rite of passage activity
or ritual helps establish or maintain aspects of this identity.
Health
The valuable process of a rite of passage (separation >
transition > reincorporation) has seen fishing adopted as a therapeutic
transitioning activity for people with mental health issues and acquired
disabilities such as post-traumatic stress disorders. Going fishing with friends or like-minded
people can help participants let go of the past and embrace a new or more
positive future.
Organisations such as Wounded Warriors & Project Healing
Waters have adopted fishing as a process to allow an adjustment of mindset and separation
from negative past and/or present events; encouraging moving across a life
threshold; and helping establish either a new identity, status, or make new
recreational and social connections.
Involvement in the activity promotes repair, rehabilitation and moving
on.
The relaxed nature of fishing and being outdoors in the
natural environment can present a form of escapism from the everyday grind and
routines of life. This makes recreational fishing activity an extremely
valuable and popular solution to achieving a beneficial balance between hectic
and healthy lifestyles.
In conclusion, going fishing with family members, friends and colleagues provides an enjoyable and healthful activity that doesn't necessarily end when you pack up the tackle, it continues to discussions around the dinner table whilst enjoying your fish supper, bonding and strengthening relationships and creating long lasting memories.
Fishing - The 10 Commandments:
1. Enjoy the challenge of catching fish for your supper;
2. Relax and partake in quality time away from daily
environments and routines;
3. Utilise the opportunity to value companionship and
friendship whilst sharing a common interest;
4. Maintain or develop relationships focusing on
communication and building trust through team effort and goal sharing;
5. Maintain and share fishing knowledge and skills through
mentoring or role modelling;
6. Create special memories and stories to share; celebrate
achievements and milestones; share your catch;
7. Use fishing to encourage life skills development -
concentration; decision making; independence; patience; problem solving; and
responsibility;
8. Connect with the
natural environment - appreciate; respect; and share its beauty and benefits;
9. Promote fishing as an alternative recreational pursuit
and a healthy lifestyle activity (including fish diet);
10. Educate and maintain awareness in survival skills, water
safety, regulations; and the importance of sustaining our waterways and marine
environments.
Caro
Deep End Fishing Charters
http://www.deependfishingcharters.com
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From Port Macquarie, NSW
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