Coming of Age in Samoa

"Coming of Age in Samoa" is a seminal anthropological study by Margaret Mead, published in 1928. Mead traveled to Samoa to explore the lives of adolescents and concluded that their transition to adulthood was less stressful than in the United States, largely due to the culture’s supportive community and attitudes toward sexuality. She argued that societal norms shape the experiences of youth, suggesting that the challenges of adolescence are influenced more by cultural factors than by biological ones. This work sparked discussions about culture’s role in human development and remains influential in anthropology and sociology.