ritesthat

Ritesthat is a term used to describe a class of social phenomena in which testing or evaluation procedures are embedded with ritual elements and symbolic actions. The concept emphasizes that many contemporary assessments do not merely determine competence but also enact belonging, authority, and social order through ceremonial practices. The name combines rite and test to highlight this dual function.

Origin and usage of the term are informal and multidisciplinary. It arose in discussions within anthropology, sociology, and organizational studies as a way to critique or illuminate how certain tests acquire ceremonial features. While not a formal scholarly category, ritesthat has been used to describe patterns across classrooms, workplaces, online communities, and public institutions where evaluation procedures resemble rituals as much as measurements.

Contexts and examples vary. In education, standardized examinations can be accompanied by ceremonial rituals such as pledge ceremonies, tamper-evident procedures, or ritualistic overhearing of instructions. In corporate settings, onboarding processes may include symbolic milestones, badges, and formal sign-offs that confer status as much as prove capability. In online groups, new-member rituals, code-of-conduct pledges, and repeated pattern checks can function as rites that reaffirm belonging.

Critics argue that ritesthat can reinforce gatekeeping and social exclusion by privileging performative conformity over actual competence. Proponents counter that rituals can strengthen legitimacy, transparency, and shared expectations when designed inclusively. See also: ritual, rite of passage, performativity.