Reference:
Coming of Age in Samoa
Margaret Mead
1928 Harper Perennial
Summary:
Samoan social life consists of a web of traditions and relationships. With few exceptions, an individual gains power and authority with age. Families joined through marriage are expected to help each other out, but only when a specific set of actions is carries out, and only while the marriage lasts. All the while, political forces are at play as youths jockey for positions of noteriety.
Discussion:
I find it odd that while in the previous chapter Mead talks about how the boys limit their successes, in this chapter she describes a struggle for power in their ranks. On the other hand, Mead describes how the position of taupo is given to an underqualified girl who has no desire for it. It will be interesting to see if these types of trends continue through the text.
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