Sex and Temperament by Margaret Mead

Sex and Temperament by Margaret Mead

A precursor to Mead's illuminating Male & Female, Sex & Temperament lays the groundwork for her lifelong study of gender differences.

First published in 1935, Sex & Temperament is a fascinating and brilliant anthropological study of the intimate lives of three New Guinea tribes from infancy to adulthood. Focusing on the gentle, mountain-dwelling Arapesh, the fierce, cannibalistic Mundugumor, and the graceful headhunters of Tchambuli -- Mead advances the theory that many so-called masculine and feminine characteristics are not based on fundamental sex differences but reflect the cultural conditioning of different societies. This edition, prepared for the centennial of Mead's birth, features introductions by Helen Fisher and Mead's daughter, Mary Catherine Bateson.

This foundational work of cultural anthropology explores:

• Cross-Cultural Perspective: An immersive look at three dramatically different societies: the gentle Arapesh, the aggressive Mundugumor, and the Tchambuli, where traditional gender expectations are reversed.
• Cultural Conditioning: Mead's groundbreaking argument that personality traits we consider 'masculine' or 'feminine' are not innate, but are powerfully shaped by culture and upbringing.
• Feminist Anthropology: A cornerstone text that challenged long-held beliefs about sex and temperament, paving the way for modern gender studies.
• Pioneering Fieldwork: Based on Mead's immersive and controversial fieldwork in New Guinea, this study remains a landmark in social science.

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