Title: Coming of Age in Samoa
Author: Margaret Mead
Editors: Williams Morrow and Company (1928)
Summary: In the seventh chapter of Coming of Age in Samoa, Mead discusses the Formal Sex Relations of the Samoan people. Samoa has three forms of relationships: Marriage, Unmarried Love Affairs, and Adultery. The unmarried love affairs are generally arranged by a third party mutual friend between the two parties. Marriage is similar to America, with cheating and divorce not an uncommon occurrence. An affair does not necessarily spell the end of a marriage, and divorce is not a difficult or taboo thing to do.
Discussion: I found it interesting that marriage is treated similarly to America, with divorces and affairs handled much like we do. It's most likely a bad stereotype, but one generally imagines "primitive" cultures having stricter marriage policies, with couples forced together, and adultery punished severely.
No comments:
Post a Comment