Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A prominent American cultural anthropologist: Margaret Mead was a pioneering figure in anthropology, renowned for her fieldwork and influential writings on human development, culture, and sexuality.
   • A specific historical figure (1901-1978): The name refers to the individual, Margaret Mead, who conducted significant research, particularly in the South Pacific.

Usage

• As a subject or object referring to the person:
  • Margaret Mead conducted groundbreaking research in Samoa.
  • Many scholars have been influenced by the work of Margaret Mead.
• Used attributively to describe her work or legacy:
  • The Margaret Mead archives contain her field notes.
  • She attended the Margaret Mead Film Festival.

Advanced Usage

• "A Margaret Mead of [a field]": Used metaphorically to denote a pioneering, popularizing figure in a particular area of study.
  • He is considered the Margaret Mead of digital culture studies.
• In discussions of anthropological methodology or debates:
  • Her work is central to discussions on nature versus nurture.
  • Margaret Mead's findings were later contested, sparking important debates in the field.

Variants and Related Words

• Meadian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of Margaret Mead or her work.
  • A Meadian perspective on cultural learning.
• Cultural anthropology (n): The branch of anthropology Mead helped popularize.

Synonyms

• Anthropologist: A scientist who studies human societies and cultures.
• Ethnographer: A researcher who systematically studies people and cultures.

Related Phrases

• "Coming of Age in Samoa": The title of Mead's most famous book, often used to refer to her seminal work.
  • Her arguments in 'Coming of Age in Samoa' challenged Western assumptions.

Related Idioms

• No direct idioms feature her name, but her work is often referenced in phrases about cultural relativism or the social construction of adolescence.
  • It's not a biological universal; think of Margaret Mead's work.

Noun

1. United States anthropologist noted for her claims about adolescence and sexual behavior in Polynesian cultures (1901-1978)