Description
“Coming of Age in Samoa” is a classic anthropological work written by Margaret Mead. The book was first published in 1928 and is based on Mead’s fieldwork in American Samoa in the early 1920s.
In the book, Mead explores the cultural attitudes and practices surrounding adolescence and the transition to adulthood in Samoa. Mead’s research challenged prevailing Western beliefs about the universality of certain behaviors associated with adolescence, such as rebellion and turmoil. She argued that cultural factors significantly shape the experience of coming of age.
Mead’s findings and interpretations in “Coming of Age in Samoa” sparked considerable debate in the field of anthropology and beyond. The book remains influential for its discussions on cultural relativism and the impact of cultural context on human behavior.
It’s important to note that there has been some criticism and reevaluation of Mead’s work in subsequent years, with discussions about the accuracy of her observations and the extent to which her conclusions about Samoan culture can be generalized. Despite the critiques, “Coming of Age in Samoa” remains a key text in the history of cultural anthropology.
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