Coming Of Age In Samoa Analysis

In her work, Coming of Age in Samoa, Margaret Mead explores the nature of adolescence in Samoa as it compares to the adolescence experienced in The United States of America. While in Samoa, Mead observes several differences of how adolescence is perceived by the Samoans in comparison to how it is perceived in the United States. Mead gathers data from observing daily life in Samoa and speaking with many young girls and their families. Mead’s observations lead her to the conclusion that culture has a strong influence on how a young person experiences adolescence and that adolescence does not have to be a worrisome and difficult time in an individual’s life. In fact, adolescence could be an enjoyable time. In Samoa, where Mead talked to a variety of males and females in different age groups, she gained a valuable description of adolescence and Samoan life “And through this description I have tried to answer the question which sent me to Samoa: Are the disturbances which vex our adolescents
Young girls do not want to get married as marriage means that a girl will have to take on more responsibility. Marriage is more about the social and economic benefits than about love and finding a “soul mate”. Therefore, all of the pressures of finding a perfect mate based on more emotional connections is dismissed. A main way to determine whether or not someone will be a good mate is by their dancing abilities. If someone is a bad dancer, they are singled out and viewed as a person who will not make a suitable. However, a person who is a proficient dancer, regardless of their other characteristics, will be viewed as a more attractive mate. As Mead points out, “The strong emphasis upon dancing does not discriminate against the physically defective…” (Mead 84). No matter what the physically abilities of a person are, if they can exhibit coordination when they dance, they are viewed as