Margaret Mead's Groundbreaking Study of Gender and Education in Samoan Society
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Margaret Mead was an influential 20th century anthropologist who studied how culture and environment shape human behavior and development. Her most famous work, Coming of Age in Samoa, analyzed the transition to adulthood in Samoan society and found that Samoan adolescents experienced less stress and conflict compared to American youth. However, Mead's work has also faced criticism for potentially misrepresenting Samoan culture. Overall, Mead was an early proponent of the view that gender roles and social norms are culturally determined rather than biologically fixed.
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Margaret Mead's Groundbreaking Study of Gender and Education in Samoan Society
- 1. Margaret Mead and Education By: Chelsea Ellis
- 2. Introduction ANTHROPOLOGY A new science in the 1920’s The study of People Mead’s teacher- Franz Boas Franz Boas Believed all people basically the same Influences Freud Erik Erikson Gestalt Psychology of Kurt Lewin
- 3. Primitive Societies Mead Freud Historically and culturally Biology dictates one’s place women’s status changed in society depending on their societal condition Women who go against it suffered from “penis envy”
- 4. Coming of Age in Samoa The study of transition from childhood to adulthood Applied to girls who reached puberty Awkward Age
- 5. Gender Roles Boys Girls In charge of work and 4-5 years old planning for the village In charge of babies and toddlers Learn diverse skills like fishing, building, orating Puberty Perform more physical tasks like harvesting crops No longer in charge of child-rearing Begin work of making mats and dowry gifts for relatives
- 6. Samoan Adolescence Not a period of crisis or stress Develop interests and activities Not perplexed by conflicts, philosophical queries, or remote ambitions Can take lovers until married for as long as possible
- 7. Education America Samoa Praises “experimental The brightest kids have to educators” (Weisberg, hold themselves back 2001, p. 153) The dullest child is helped Creates the feeling that all are equally capable Is this good or bad?
- 8. The Manus Culture Education Physical Training Children never start a feat too soon Children are never allowed to back track How can we apply this to education?
- 10. Critics: Freeman Mead-Freeman Controversy Absolute Cultural Determinist Accused of fitting behavior and cultural patterns into research Should have been investigating her research problem more Boas- Mead relationship Result: Other critics believe Freeman misrepresented Mead’s views
- 11. References Barry, N. M. (1991). Margaret Mead: Overview. Feminist Writers. Cote, J. E. (2000). Was coming of Age in Samoa Based on “Fateful Hoaxing”? Current Anthropology, 41(4), 617-620. Http://boulderjewishnews.org/2010/how-a-nature-vs-nurture-debate- got-ugly/ http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/mead/field-manus.html Mead, M. (1928). Coming of Age in Samoa: A psychological study of primitive youth for western civilisation. New York: William Morrow & Co.
- 12. References Cont… Overview: Coming of Age in Samoa. (1928). Gale Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http:// www.go.galegroup.com Simeone, L. (2001). Interview: Mary Catherine Bateson and William Beeman Discuss Anthropologist Margaret Mead’s Legacy. Weekend All Things Considered. (NPR). Weisberg, D. Coming of Age in Samoa and Nebraska (2001). Nepantia, 2(1), 139-154.
Editor's Notes
- Margaret Mead devoted most of her career to studying the native people of the Pacific, but much of her work was aimed at promoting understanding between people of different cultures. She committed her life to building a sense of community.
- When Mead was in school, Anthropology was a new science. The study of people piqued her interests.Franz Boas, her teacher, believed people are all basically the same which was different than the race sentiment at the time. Boas went further to say the differences could be attributable to culture or lifestyle rather than biology. Margaret Mead set off for Samoa after school. Samoa is an island in the South Pacific.
- First of all, the word “Primitive” is described by using American standards. Mead believes that the only way to reveal points about the education system is to project it against a completely alien and contrasting background.AT THE END: Mead decided to study the adolescent transition among young women and cross-culturally compare this period of growth.
- Mead set out to study the transition from childhood to adulthood. Americans believed rapid physical changes of the adolescent’s body had a direct effect on psychological behavior. Mead applied this to adolescent girls that reached puberty and experienced a range of emotions because of hormones. Americans began to relook at how they educated young adults, set rules in the household, and determined the so-called acceptable age to engage in sex.
- Orating is associated with trade and governance
- This slide refers to the females in the village. Adolescence in Samoa was not a period of crisis or stress. The girls develop their interests and activities like mat weaving. The girls are not conflicted, troubled with philosophical queries, or affected by remote ambitions. This is partially because parents do not hide subjects from their children like in America. For example, subjects like birth, death, and sex are openly discussed with inquiring children. Also, within a child’s youth, he or she may see any of these because the family lives in the village. They are exposed to birth, for example, multiple times in their childhood. In Samoa, no topic is off limits. The children are prepared for life. Girls are allowed to experiment and meet new people in the village. They are allowed to have fun before settling down to marriage and hard work.
- READ FIRST: Mead recognizes the only way to change culture through conscious, rational choice, which is what our culture produces.Mead praises experimental educators who develop methods that help children develop natural capabilities. These programs will not be found in Samoa or other primitive societies. In Samoa, the brightest or most gifted kids are expected to hold back so the dullest kids do not stand out. There is less of a negative connotation associated with the dull or slow kids. Mead believes it could be good for students. What are your opinions?
- READ FIRST: The Manus people live a life next to the water. The physical training is a serious matter for the Manus tribe because they need to be equipped to meet the dangers of the water. I think the Manus culture can contribute to American education. Children are never forced to begin a task or assignment. If they attempt a feat too soon, it would defeat the parents’ aim- each new skill should be learned correctly. Furthermore, a child who attempts something beyond his strength is diverted, not discouraged. Secondly, children are never allowed to back track. Children are refused to repeat tasks already accomplished. As teachers, there is no need to reteach skills our students already know. We need to know when to continue and build off the students’ previous learning. At the same time, do not move on to a new subject if students are still struggling. Everything in education builds. We need to give students a solid foundation; we just need to remember to keep building.
- Freeman believes that Margaret Mead was hoaxed by the females in Samoa. He comes up with reasons as to why Mead’s research is a hoax. Freeman called her an absolute cultural determinist. Basically, he accused Mead of making her views on behavior and cultural patterns fit the Samoan culture. Freeman also believes she spent too much doing ethnographic research instead of investigating her research problem. Freeman also accuses Mead of trying to impress her mentor teacher, Franz Boas. The result is that most critics found Mead’s work helpful, and they believe Freeman misrepresented her views.**Mead believes that one’s character, personality, and disposition are based on the environment, or civilization, in which he or she is raised.**