Coming of Age

Ancient Mayan Coming of Age Guest: Stephen Houston, Professor, Social Science, Brown University, and author, "The Gifted Passage: Young Men in Classic Maya Art and Text" The glorified, and sometimes violent, coming-of-age rituals in Mayan times.  The Debutante Tradition Thrives  Guest: Kristen Richardson, author, "The Season: A Social History of the Debutante" Debutante culture emerged when Henry VIII split from the Catholic church, and the nobility could no longer send their "excess" daughters to convents. The practice seems antiquated today, but the tradition of debutante balls is alive and well (or it was before the pandemic). What's the point when young women have so many options for career and marriage partners? The answer involves geopolitics, business, and personal ambition.