Book Reading #6: Coming of Age in Samoa

Reference:
Coming of Age in Samoa
Margaret Mead
1928 Harper Perennial

Chapter 2: A Day in Samoa

Summary:

 Mead describes the events of a typical day in Samoan society.  In the mornings people prepare for their daily tasks.  The men the set out to fish or harvest crops, while the women tend to the children and see to local chores.  Activity slows around noon, when the day is hottest.  In the evening, when everyone has returned/woken, the evening meal is held.  Afterwards, people break off into various groups to socialize, play, sleep, or plan for the next day.  Finally the village sleeps and the cycle is set to repeat again.

Discussion:

I drew some parallels between Samoan culture and different world cultures that I found interesting.  For example, sleeping during the hottest part of the day is common in many cultures (though sadly, and inexplicable, not in Texas).  In addition, I found that the Samoan evening meal was similar to gatherings of my extended family, with the patriarch/matriarch going first, followed by their children, and ending up with me somewhere in the back.

Appendix II: Methodology of this Survey

Summary:

This appendix delves into the methodology used in the study of the Samoan girls.  The researcher tried to be as comprehensive as possible in gathering data, but admits that the data is lacking in many areas and cannot necissarily provide an accurate depiction of Samoan culture. 

Discussion:

It is unfortunate that more accurate data was unobtainable at the time, but based on the descriptions provided I don't know what else could have been done.  If Mead had spent many more months on Samoa and visited many more villages the data would certainly be more comprehensive, but I assume this would have been an unrealistic approach for Mead.

Appendix V: Materials Upon Which the Analysis is Based

Summary:

Mead lays out how the girls were seperated into groups, what the structure of each girls family was like, and what kinds of tests and questions were given to the girls.  Detailed charts are provided on various sexual aspects of the post-pubescent girls and on the family structure of all of the subjects. 

Discussion:

I found the make-shift intelligence test that Mead produced to be interesting, though I'm not sure if I agree with all of her chosen categories.  Granted, in this section the specifics of each test is not given in detail.  Also of interest was the fact that the older girls engaged in far more homosexual activity than heterosexual.  I'm guessing this will be covered more in-depth in one of the chapters, but this seems to suggest that, at least for young adults, heterosuxal relations are looked down on far more than homosexual ones.