Male and Female by Margaret Mead

Male and Female by Margaret Mead

With a new introduction by Helen Fisher, Ph.D., the classic gender study by renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead, which delivers pertinent insights into today's battle of the sexes.

Mead's anthropological examination of seven Pacific island tribes analyzes the dynamics of non-western cultures to explore the evolving meaning of "male" and "female" in modern American society. On its publication in 1949, the New York Times declared, "Dr. Mead's book has come to grips with the cold war between the sexes and has shown the basis of a lasting sexual peace." This edition, prepared for the centennial of Mead's birth, features introductions by Helen Fisher and Mead's daughter, Mary Catherine Bateson. Male & Female remains an extraordinary document of great relevance, while Mead's research methods and fieldwork offer a blueprint for scholars in future generations.

In this landmark text, Mead confronts the essential question of the human experience: How do biology, culture, and society shape what it means to be a man or a woman?

• Seven South Sea Cultures: Journey with Mead to seven distinct Pacific island societies--from Samoa to Bali--to witness firsthand how different cultures construct the meanings of "male" and "female."
• The Nature Versus Nurture Debate: Explore one of the foundational texts in the ongoing conversation about whether biology or culture is the primary force in shaping human personality and gender.
• Gender, Sex, and Temperament: Analyze Mead's classic framework for understanding the powerful links between societal expectations, cultural conditioning, and the expression of human sexuality.
• The Invention of Fatherhood: Challenge your assumptions with Mead's provocative thesis that human fatherhood is a social invention, a learned behavior that separates humanity from the rest of the animal world.
• Updated for a New Generation: Gain fresh perspective from new introductions by renowned biological anthropologist Helen Fisher and Mead's daughter, Mary Catherine Bateson.

Margaret M. (Margaret M.) is Caffrey teaches history at Memphis State University as an associate professor.