MARGARET MEAD'S OTHER SAMOA: REREADING SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF MANU'A

Authors

Paul Shankman, University of Colorado–BoulderFollow

Abstract

Derek Freeman focused his attention on Margaret Mead's Coming of Age in Samoa to such an extent that her ethnography of Samoa, Social Organization of Manu'a, has been neglected. This professional monograph demonstrates Mead's credibility as an ethnographer and as a modern student of social organization. While Freeman believed that Mead was young, naive, and gullible, a closer examination of Social Organization of Manu'a indicates that she was energetic, resourceful, perceptive, and theoretically sophisticated. Any evaluation of Mead's Samoan research should include this enduring contribution to our knowledge of the islands.

Recommended Citation

Shankman, Paul (2005) "MARGARET MEAD'S OTHER SAMOA: REREADING SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF MANU'A," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 28: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol28/iss2/3