SC - OT: Anthropology-OOP

[HICKS, MELISSA]

Ras,

This is indeed way Off topic AND Out of Period .... but what the hey ....

There are a number of different theories as to whether her work was flawed
or whether she altered her conclusions to justify the conclusions she
wanted.  Basically the problem is no-one can copy her work. This is a
problem endemic to all anthropologists.

Freeman who did refute her findings did go a few years later and was a man
who discussed these matters with the tribal chiefs.  Mead was a woman who
discussed these matters with the young girls.  Freeman's work is biased
because he is a man (a handicap in an anthropologist who is discussing the
sexual activity of the young female members of a culture) and he discussed
the matter with the important men of the culture.

Mead's work can be considered to be flawed because she was a young woman who
discussed the matter with the young women of the culture.  In BOTH cases it
appears that the anthropologists *could* have been told what they wanted to
hear - or what the members of the culture wanted them to hear.  Mead did not
apparently witness any of the young women being sexually active with the
young men.  Mead was also only there three months, and did not live in the
village with the natives - both of which are *now* considered necessary to
establish the trust levels required.

And of course the introduction of Christianity into the culture - which I
believe was going on at the time Mead was there - has clouded the issue
completely.

Basically this is an issue that really can't be answered.  Mead did a good
thing for Anthropology in general by reporting her findings that nurture is
as important as nature in human culture, regardless whether her work was
flawed or not.

Freeman, incidentally, works at the Australian National University (the
other main Uni in Canberra) but we Uni of Canberra students have no contact
with him.

Alban is right - lets leave this until after Rowany Festival at Easter.

Mel.



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