Margaret Mead (Cultural Anthropologist)

Margaret Mead was a prominent cultural anthropologist known for her pioneering research on the influence of culture on human behavior. Born in 1901, she studied the lives of various Pacific Island societies, particularly in Samoa, where she explored themes of adolescence, gender roles, and cultural differences. Mead's work emphasized that many aspects of human behavior are shaped more by culture than biology. Her influential books, such as "Coming of Age in Samoa," challenged Western assumptions about development and sexuality, making her a key figure in both anthropology and the broader understanding of cultural diversity.