Chapter 6: The Girl in the Community
Coming of Age in Samoa
Margaret Mead
Summary: In this chapter, Mead discusses in further detail the type of society and titles that the highest ranking individuals in the community would hold, including younger and older men, as well as younger and older women; how these titles were recognized by the rest of the community members and visitors. Mead focuses on the role that the girl plays in society and how it relates to the rest of social groups. Overall, she explains that the titles hold by women and girls were far less relevant than those hold by the men.
Discussion: Mead had already given us a hint about the role that women played compared to that of men. But in this chapter she goes into further detail. I am not completely sure why it doesn't surprise me the fact that a men organization would be given more importance than a women's. What does surprise me, and it is so ironic is the fact that the taupo, who is given such an honor of being the princess of the village, would still have to serve others. I think there is high complexity in their social organization, maybe even more complex than our own.
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