Margaret Mead

Definition

Margaret Mead was a renowned American cultural anthropologist known for her pioneering work in the field of anthropology. She is particularly recognized for her contributions to the understanding of cross-cultural comparisons, cultural relativism, participant observation, gender studies, and the use of visual anthropology and ethnographic film in the discipline.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Margaret Mead's influential work, 'Coming of Age in Samoa,' challenged Western assumptions about adolescence and sexuality, contributing to the development of cultural relativism.
2. Mead's extensive use of participant observation and interviewing techniques in her field research helped establish these methods as essential tools in anthropological inquiry.
3. Mead's studies on gender and sexuality, such as her work on the Samoan and New Guinean cultures, challenged traditional Western notions of gender and sexual identity, paving the way for queer anthropology.
4. Mead's pioneering use of visual anthropology and ethnographic film, such as in her documentaries on Balinese culture, demonstrated the power of these media to capture and communicate cultural nuances.
5. Mead's work has inspired generations of anthropologists to engage in public outreach and advocacy, highlighting the ways in which anthropological knowledge can be applied to address real-world issues.

Review Questions

• Explain how Margaret Mead's work contributed to the development of cross-cultural comparison and cultural relativism in anthropology.
  • Margaret Mead's groundbreaking research in Samoa, as documented in her book 'Coming of Age in Samoa,' challenged the universality of Western assumptions about adolescence and sexuality. By studying the Samoan culture through the lens of cultural relativism, Mead demonstrated that the experiences of young people could vary significantly across different cultural contexts. This work helped establish the importance of cross-cultural comparison and the principle of evaluating cultures based on their own internal standards, rather than imposing external, ethnocentric perspectives. Mead's approach paved the way for a more nuanced and contextual understanding of human behavior and social norms.
• Discuss how Margaret Mead's use of participant observation and interviewing techniques contributed to the development of these methodologies in anthropology.
  • Margaret Mead was a pioneer in the use of participant observation and in-depth interviewing as core methods in anthropological fieldwork. By immersing herself in the communities she studied, such as the Samoan and New Guinean cultures, Mead was able to gain a deep, first-hand understanding of the daily lives, customs, and perspectives of the people. Her extensive use of these qualitative techniques, which allowed her to collect rich, contextual data, helped establish participant observation and interviewing as essential tools for anthropologists to engage with and understand the nuances of human cultures. Mead's methodological innovations, along with her influential publications, played a crucial role in solidifying these approaches as fundamental to the discipline of anthropology.
• Analyze how Margaret Mead's work on gender and sexuality contributed to the emergence of queer anthropology and the broader understanding of gender and sexual identity.
  • Margaret Mead's groundbreaking research on gender and sexuality in cultures such as Samoa and New Guinea challenged the Western, heteronormative assumptions about gender and sexual identity. By documenting the diversity of gender expressions and sexual practices across different societies, Mead's work undermined the notion of universal, binary gender categories and highlighted the socially constructed nature of gender norms. Her studies on the Samoan 'third gender' and the fluid gender roles in New Guinean cultures paved the way for the development of queer anthropology, which explores the cultural and historical variations in gender and sexuality. Mead's influential publications, such as 'Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies,' have inspired generations of anthropologists to critically examine the intersections of culture, power, and the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, ultimately expanding our understanding of the rich diversity of human gender and sexual identities.

Related terms

Cultural Relativism:

The principle of evaluating a culture based on its own standards and values, rather than imposing external or universal standards.

Participant Observation:

A research method in which the anthropologist immerses themselves in a community or culture, actively participating in and observing the daily life and practices of the people being studied.

Gender Studies: The interdisciplinary study of gender, including the social, cultural, and biological aspects of masculinity, femininity, and gender identity.