Book Reading #36 - Coming of Age in Samoa

Title:
Chapter 12: Maturity and Old Age


Reference:
Mead, Margaret. Coming of Age in Samoa. Harper Perennial, 1928 (1971)

Summary:
Maturity in Old Age spoke about the different roles of women as they progress past the teenage years.  When there is a marriage, the wife is able to adapt easier than her husband if they move into the spouses home.  The woman takes on the duties that she would have otherwise.  Her duty is child-care.  On the other hand, the man is always seeking position within the community.  He is seeking to have a title of higher honor.  This is done by progressively showing success and ability over his fellow men.

Discussion:
I found it interesting that the hardest work in the village is done by women from 45 to 50 years of age.  The fact that men are always seeking to get ahead reminded me of America, but in a slightly different context.  It seems that the means are for the most part the same in Samoa, whilst in America there are many ways of making it to the top.  It brings in the idea of acting older than one is, that opinion that the village seems to so desperately hate.