Reference Information
Title: Coming of Age in Samoa
Author: Margaret Mead
Editors: Williams Morrow and Company (1928)
Chapter 3: The Education of a Samoan Child (19 Pages)
Summary
In chapter 3, Mead talks about what girls learn as they grow up. When they are babies, the girls are taken care of by children. As they age, they receive a pretty simple education until they are about 5. After that, they start taking care of the younger children. Additionally, they learn other tasks such as breaking open a coconut. Once a girl is strong enough, they go to work on the plantations and sometimes even fishing expeditions. At home, girls learn to do domestic tasks. This is particularly important so that they will be desirable for marriage later in life.
Discussion
I thought it was interesting that the first few years are though to be the worst and the teen years to be the best. It seems like they have so much responsibility early on, a stark contrast from our society. I also thought it was interesting that young men try to not associate with unskilled young women because of the fear that they may want to marry them one day.
In chapter 3, Mead talks about what girls learn as they grow up. When they are babies, the girls are taken care of by children. As they age, they receive a pretty simple education until they are about 5. After that, they start taking care of the younger children. Additionally, they learn other tasks such as breaking open a coconut. Once a girl is strong enough, they go to work on the plantations and sometimes even fishing expeditions. At home, girls learn to do domestic tasks. This is particularly important so that they will be desirable for marriage later in life.
Discussion
I thought it was interesting that the first few years are though to be the worst and the teen years to be the best. It seems like they have so much responsibility early on, a stark contrast from our society. I also thought it was interesting that young men try to not associate with unskilled young women because of the fear that they may want to marry them one day.
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