Crossing the Line; Violence, Play, and Drama in Naval Equator Traditions

For centuries, new sailors from European and North American countries have been subjected to an elaborate hazing at sea called “crossing the line.” Typically initiated upon a crossing of the equator, the beatings, dunkings, sexual play, and drinking displays that constitute crossing the line have in recent decades been banned by some fleets— but they have also been the subject of staunch defenses and fond reminiscences. Crossing the Line studies the purpose and the changing meaning of the ceremony, substantially revising long-held assumptions.

About the Author
Simon J. Bronner is Distinguished University Professor of American Studies and Folklore at Penn State University and director of the Center for Pennsylvania Culture Studies in Harrisburg. He is the author of Manly Traditions: The Folk Roots of American Masculinities.