Lecture Notes on Margaret Mead and Modern Perspectives
Introduction
Discussion on the term "modern" and its positive connotations.
Consideration of what truths in modern science and society may have been overlooked.
Who is Margaret Mead?
Born in 1901 in the USA, oldest of five.
Father: professor of finance; Mother: sociologist.
Studied psychology and pursued a PhD in anthropology under Franz Boas.
Boas: founder of anthropology in the USA; challenged linear progression of civilization.
Key Concepts in Mead's Work
Cultural Perspectives
Mead was influenced by Boas' idea of diverse separate cultures, not a linear civilization.
Modern Western culture viewed as one example among many, not the pinnacle.
Fieldwork in Samoa
Mead's fieldwork began in 1925; lived in Samoa until WWII.
Immersed in local culture: learned languages, dressed like locals, involved in daily life.
Focused on Samoan attitudes towards sex, published findings in "Coming of Age in Samoa" (1928).
Findings on Sexuality
Samoan culture: open and comfortable with sexuality.
Children educated about sex through observation; no shame associated with it.
Mead noted less pressure on girls regarding sexuality compared to the United States:
No societal pressure to conform to specific sexual roles or milestones.
Gender Roles and Cultural Analysis
Contrasts between modern and primitive societies in gender roles:
American views: men as productive/aggressive; women as nurturing/frivolous.
Studied Papua New Guinea tribes: Arapesh and Mundugamor.
Arapesh: peaceful and nurturing traits in both genders.
Mundugamor: ruthless and aggressive traits in both genders.
Conclusion: Gender traits are socially constructed, influenced by cultural expectations.
Broader Implications
Mead emphasized potentialities of individuals beyond societal classifications of sex and race.
Encouraged recognition of underlying human potential often suppressed by societal norms.
Mead applied lessons from her studies to parenting, promoting ideas like breastfeeding on demand.
Later Work and Legacy
During WWII, studied more complex societies and worked with the US military on Soviet behaviors.
Gained fame through lectures and teaching; worked at the American Museum of Natural History.
Authored 20 books; awarded 28 honorary degrees.
Advocated for utilizing diverse cultural experiences to improve understanding of one’s own culture.
Conclusion
Mead's insights remind us of the importance of exploring other cultures to unlock forgotten human potential and question modernity's rush for progress.