Book Reading #19: Coming of Age in Samoa

Reference Information
Title: Coming of Age in Samoa

Author: Margaret Mead

Editor: Harper Perennial, 1928 (1971)

Chapter 6: The Girl in Her Community
Summary
This chapter discusses the social order of both girls and boys in the community. While boys have much more order forced upon them, the women are thrown into a loosely-formal organization and for the most part, not expected to do much work.



Discussion
I find it interesting that the women are not expected to learn much etiquette-wise, or to do much work. However, when called upon to do so (i.e. by marriage with a title), they accomplish just as much as the men. Also, the fact that the taupo is treated to differently is interesting. It seems as if she is being forced into that life.