Coming Of Age In Saloa Analysis

At the age of 24 in 1925, Margaret Mead traveled to Samoa to conduct ethnographic research on the Samoan culture with a focus on female adolescent’s. Her findings were then compiled into her book Coming of Age in Samoa, published in 1928. She portrayed growing up in Samoa as uncomplicated and offering “…no period of crisis or stress, but was instead an orderly developing of a set of slowly maturing interests and activities” (Mead 109). This can be attributed to their societal structure as is evident in regards to a girl’s relationship with her family and age group, with the general diffusion of authority deriving from one’s age in relation to other’s. Sex and rank is also an important determinant to how a girl affiliates with her family members …show more content…
This is the determinant that counterpose’s the norms of the average Samoan girl. A prime example of it is seen in the taupo; the ceremonial princess of the village whom the high chief has given the title to as well as property. It is the high chief’s hereditary right to name a girl from his household the taupo (there can 2-3of them in a village). About the age of 15 or 16 this special girl is taken from her immediate family and age group, and the older women of the village bestow upon her courtesy titles. It is here in which rank outweighs age and even the wife of high chief’s have to treat their taupo with courtesy and respect, even if they may be older than her. The life of the taupo is then much different than that of the other girls from her village. The taupo is not just the village “princess” but also the village servant whose responsibilities are many, such as tending to visiting stranger’s or her own chief. Even her marriage is arranged by the talking chiefs’ and their wives’, without any consideration to her …show more content…
The interplay of age, sex and rank in determining a girl’s relation to those around her is fascinating from an outsider’s perspective. The fact that they can not associate with relatives of the opposite sex and have an actual relationship is also something completely different from my own worldview. Margaret’s book creates the illusion of the Samoan girl’s life seemingly efficient and stress free. They have a set model for most of their interactions, responsibilities and expectations in their daily and future life’s. This in turn helps to aid this notion that Mead expressed of adolescent Samoan girl’s going through crisis-free and stress-free