Lecture on Margaret Mead, coming of age in Samoa

Overview

• The lecture discusses Margaret Mead, an influential American anthropologist.
• Mead's work focused on adolescence and cultural differences, particularly in the South Pacific islands.

Key Themes and Concepts

Mead's Early Life and Education

• Mead grew up with an interest in Italian culture, influenced by her mother's studies.
• Graduated from Barnard College in 1923.
• Influenced by Franz Boas, a prominent anthropologist, to pursue fieldwork in anthropology.

Fieldwork in American Samoa

• Mead conducted her first fieldwork in Samoa in 1925.
• Aimed to study adolescence, focusing on whether it was a universally tumultuous period.
• Found that Samoan adolescence was marked by happiness and less stress compared to Western societies.
• Her work led to the publication of "Coming of Age in Samoa."

Criticism of Mead's Work

• Some critics argue Mead spent insufficient time and lacked complete understanding of Samoan culture.
• Critics question the depth of her grasp of the Samoan language and cultural complexities.

Additional Fieldwork and Contributions

Work in New Guinea

• Mead conducted fieldwork in Perry Village, Manus Island, with her husband Reo Fortune.
• Studied children's cultural development, leading to the book "Growing Up in New Guinea."

Concepts of Gender and Culture

• Her work in New Guinea influenced ideas about gender roles being culturally rather than biologically determined.
• Her book "Sex and Temperament" explored these themes.

Later Career and Impact

• Mead's fieldwork evolved to include the examination of cultural impacts of modernity and Western influence.
• Collaborated with Gregory Bateson, developing a photographic documentation of Balinese culture.

Mead's Influence on Child-Rearing

• Her anthropological insights influenced Dr. Benjamin Spock's child-rearing advice.
• Known for documenting her daughter's early development.

Mead During WWII

• Worked on understanding cultural interactions between American and British troops.
• Her insights helped explain cultural misunderstandings between the troops.

Legacy and Recognition

• Mead was a popular figure in anthropology, bridging academic and public audiences.
• Faced skepticism from academic peers due to her popularity and approach.
• Remembered for her innovative fieldwork and accessible writing.

Conclusion

• Mead's work emphasized cultural diversity and provided insights into social organization.
• Her legacy includes bringing anthropology to a wider audience and contributing to the understanding of cultural relativism.