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Chapter 2 Love and The Work of Culture 1. Margaret Mead and Ruth Fulton Benedict first met: a. while Benedict was studying in Samoa. b. as undergraduate students in the 1920s. c. when Benedict taught Mead at Columbia University. d. through Mead’s husband Reo Fortune. Answer: C Rationale: Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict first met when Benedict taught Mead at Columbia University. This interaction laid the foundation for their enduring professional and personal relationship, shaping the field of anthropology for decades to come. 2. Margaret Mead wrote all of the following except _________. a. Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies b. Coming of Age in Samoa c. Patterns of Culture d. Mead wrote all of the above texts. Answer: C Rationale: Margaret Mead did not write "Patterns of Culture." This book was authored by Ruth Benedict, not Mead. Mead did, however, write "Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies" and "Coming of Age in Samoa," among other works. 3. What are the three societies Mead discusses in her book, Sex and Temperament? a. Arapesh, Samoan, Iatmul b. Arapesh, Mundugumor, Tchambuli c. Samoan, Tchambuli, Iatmul d. Mundugumor, Tchambuli, Cressman Answer: B Rationale: In her book "Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies," Margaret Mead discusses the gender roles and behaviors in the Arapesh, Mundugumor, and Tchambuli societies. 4. The Mundugumor could be said to have which gendered personality pattern in Mead’s view? a. women and men are temperamentally different, with women being dominant b. women and men are temperamentally similar, both being nurturing and cooperative, the socalled “feminine” c. women and men are temperamentally similar, both being aggressive and competitive, the so-called “masculine” d. neither men nor women acted within their cultural ethos Answer: C Rationale: According to Margaret Mead's observations, the Mundugumor society exhibited a gendered personality pattern where women and men were temperamentally similar, both being aggressive and competitive, which she termed the "masculine" pattern. 5. Deeply feeling the restrictions of American culture, Ruth Benedict __________. a. was a radical even in her early years at college b. refused to marry and bear children in order to protest male dominance over women c. faced moments of serious self-doubt and suicidal thoughts d. spent her later years traveling the globe to forget the problems she faced in the U.S. Answer: C Rationale: Ruth Benedict faced moments of serious self-doubt and suicidal thoughts, reflecting her struggle with the cultural restrictions she experienced in America, particularly in her earlier years. 6. In 1925, Mead set off for fieldwork research in _________. a. Manus b. Samoa c. the Grand Canyon d. New Guinea Answer: B Rationale: In 1925, Margaret Mead embarked on fieldwork research in Samoa, which laid the groundwork for her seminal work "Coming of Age in Samoa." 7. Which of the following best characterizes how Tchambuli women nurse their children? a. Nursing is business-like and rushed, and leads to anger and struggle by the infants. b. Mother and child enjoy nursing; infants are focused upon, played with, breastfed slowly, and caressed. c. Nursing is friendly, though impersonal, casual, and unobsessive, and is an accompaniment to other, unrelated activity. d. Nursing is strictly a personal matter between mother and child. Answer: C Rationale: Margaret Mead observed that Tchambuli women nursed their children in a friendly but impersonal manner, nursing was casual, unobsessive, and often accompanied other unrelated activities. 8. Ruth Benedict is most famous for her book, entitled ________. a. Naven b. Coming of Age in Samoa c. Margaret and Me d. Patterns of Culture Answer: D Rationale: Ruth Benedict is most famous for her book "Patterns of Culture," which is considered a foundational work in cultural anthropology. 9. Male ethnographers have tended to notice women’s economic roles and autonomous activities _________. a. about as often as female ethnographers have done b. less often than female ethnographers have done c. more often than female ethnographers have done d. only when they do fieldwork with their wives Answer: B Rationale: Male ethnographers have tended to notice women's economic roles and autonomous activities less often than female ethnographers have done, reflecting gender biases and differing perspectives in anthropological research. 10. Mead applied her experiences of other cultures to ________. a. giving birth to her own child b. her own rearing of her child c. the households she formed over time d. all of the above Answer: D Rationale: Margaret Mead applied her experiences of other cultures to various aspects of her life, including giving birth to her own child, her child's rearing, and the households she formed over time, influencing her views on parenting and social dynamics. 11. Mead’s daughter Cathy grew up in her mother’s large, unusual and extended households. This demonstrates that _________. a. Cathy’s father, Gregory Bateson, was unwilling to help in raising his daughter b. there is more than one correct or right way to raise children c. Mead didn’t have to worry about balancing work and child-raising d. Mead was determined to blend in with the natives in whatever culture she studied Answer: B Rationale: Margaret Mead's unconventional approach to child-rearing, characterized by large, unusual, and extended households, suggests that she believed in the diversity of acceptable parenting methods. This aligns with option B, as it acknowledges that there isn't a singular correct way to raise children. Mead's choices indicate a broader perspective on parenting beyond traditional norms. 12. The World-War II-era project Research in Contemporary Cultures __________. a. allowed Benedict and Mead to collaborate on innovative research b. revealed the ways women work with each other and with men when circumstances permit c. focused its attention on interdisciplinary and collaborative research d. all of the above Answer: D Rationale: The project Research in Contemporary Cultures during World War II involved Benedict and Mead collaborating on innovative research, exploring various aspects of cultures including gender dynamics, and employing interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches. Therefore, option D accurately summarizes the multifaceted nature of the project. 13. Which of the following statements about Margaret Mead is incorrect? a. Gregory Bateson’s jealousy and possessiveness drove Mead to divorce him. b. Mead often had to bend gently to the wishes of her husbands or other male authority figures. c. Mead was more concerned with the public learning of her same-sex relationship than was Benedict. d. The intellectual exchanges between Mead, Bateson, and Fortune probably wrought profound changes in the discipline of anthropology. Answer: A Rationale: Margaret Mead's divorce from Gregory Bateson was not primarily driven by his jealousy and possessiveness. In fact, Bateson was supportive of Mead's career and their divorce was influenced by various factors beyond jealousy. Therefore, option A is incorrect. 14. To Benedict and Mead, war _________. a. is not a biological instinct or innate human drive b. releases tensions brought about by continued conflict between men and women c. through psychological intimidation is more effective than combat with firearms d. all of the above Answer: A Rationale: Benedict and Mead believed that war is not a result of a biological instinct or innate human drive, which aligns with option A. Their perspective emphasized cultural and social factors rather than inherent biological predispositions towards war. 15. Margaret Mead and Reo Fortune decided on their first field site in New Guinea _________. a. based on advice from Franz Boas and Ruth Benedict b. because male-female relations in New Guinea societies resembled those Mead and Fortune saw in their own marriage c. when they became stranded in the mountains of New Guinea d. to escape the conflicts of World War II Answer: C Rationale: Margaret Mead and Reo Fortune decided on their first field site in New Guinea when they became stranded in the mountains, as noted in option C. This spontaneous decision marked the beginning of their fieldwork in anthropology, rather than being based on preconceived plans or advice from others. 16. Both Benedict and Mead ___________. a. believed that they were misfits in American culture b. challenged conventional ideas about “unnatural” love and relationships c. wrote best-selling popular books that are still read d. all of the above Answer: D Rationale: Benedict and Mead shared several characteristics, including their sense of being misfits in American culture, their challenge to conventional ideas about relationships, and their authorship of best-selling books that continue to be influential. Therefore, option D accurately reflects the commonalities between Benedict and Mead. 17. Experiencing pregnancy and motherhood in her middle years, Mead __________. a. felt anxious having to stay home for long periods of time b. was explicitly grateful to avoid the desperation and panic many younger mothers feel c. became unable to continue with her work on cultural relativism and mothering d. gave her husband full responsibility for their child, as a test of her sex role theories Answer: B Rationale: Margaret Mead expressed gratitude for avoiding the desperation and panic often associated with younger motherhood, which corresponds with option B. Her perspective on motherhood emphasized the positive aspects of experiencing it in her middle years. 18. In her reexamination of the Tchambuli, Deborah Gewertz found that ________. a. men were much less artistically talented than Mead indicated b. Mead neglected to account for recent Tchambuli migration history c. Mead’s observation and ethnographic skills were rudimentary at best d. conflict had replaced formerly-peaceful equalitarian relations between group members Answer: B Rationale: Deborah Gewertz's reexamination of the Tchambuli revealed that Mead neglected to account for recent Tchambuli migration history, as stated in option B. This highlights the importance of considering historical context in anthropological studies. 19. The book Patterns of Culture__________. a. popularized the perspective of cultural relativism b. argued that women are second-class citizens only in certain cultural contexts c. invoked serious criticism from anthropologists who feared its humanistic approach d. all of the above Answer: D Rationale: "Patterns of Culture" achieved several significant milestones, including popularizing the perspective of cultural relativism, presenting nuanced views on gender roles, and sparking debates within anthropology due to its humanistic approach. Thus, option D accurately summarizes its impact and reception. 20. With which of the following statements would Margaret Mead agree? a. Biological sex is more important than culture in determining personality. b. Arapesh teen girls avoid distress by seeking monogamous relationships. c. Middle age is a time when women universally experience “menopausal zest.” d. The concepts of normal and abnormal vary from one culture to another. Answer: D Rationale: Margaret Mead's work emphasized cultural influences on human behavior and challenged deterministic views based solely on biology. Therefore, she would likely agree with the statement that the concepts of normal and abnormal vary across cultures, as option D suggests. ESSAY QUESTIONS 1. Ruth Benedict’s work popularized cultural relativism in anthropology. Why was this so important? Include a definition of cultural relativism in your response. Answer: Cultural relativism, as popularized by Ruth Benedict, is the notion that a person's beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person's own culture rather than be judged against the criteria of another. This means that behaviors and customs are not inherently right or wrong, but rather are understood within the context of their cultural environment. Benedict's emphasis on cultural relativism was crucial because it helped anthropologists recognize the diversity of human cultures without imposing ethnocentric judgments. This approach allowed for a more nuanced understanding of different societies, fostering respect and tolerance for cultural differences. 2. In romantic relationships, Mead continually found herself encountering the dynamics she wished to analyze in fieldwork. What are some of those recurring themes? Answer: In her romantic relationships, Margaret Mead encountered recurring themes that mirrored the dynamics she wished to analyze in her fieldwork. Some of these themes included power dynamics, gender roles, communication patterns, conflict resolution strategies, and the negotiation of cultural norms and expectations within intimate partnerships. 3. Compare and contrast the three Sepik River cultures Mead studied. Which of the three seems most familiar to you, and why? Answer: Margaret Mead studied three Sepik River cultures: the Arapesh, the Mundugumor, and the Tchambuli. The Arapesh were characterized by their peaceful and cooperative nature, with both men and women exhibiting nurturing qualities. The Mundugumor, on the other hand, were known for their aggressiveness and competitiveness, with distinct gender roles emphasizing dominance and assertiveness. The Tchambuli had reversed gender roles compared to Western norms, where women were dominant and responsible for economic activities, while men focused on aesthetics and socializing. Of the three, the Arapesh might seem most familiar due to their resemblance to Western ideals of gender equality and cooperation. 4. Why did Mead face such criticism for her book Sex and Temperament? Answer: Margaret Mead faced criticism for her book "Sex and Temperament" because it challenged traditional Western views on gender roles and sexuality. Some critics argued that her research methods were not rigorous enough and that her findings were influenced by her own biases and preconceptions. Additionally, her assertion that culture played a significant role in shaping gender behavior contradicted prevailing beliefs about innate biological differences between men and women, sparking controversy and debate among scholars and the public alike. 5. What was the sexual division of labor in Mead’s households and with each of her husbands? How did having a baby change her work? Answer: Margaret Mead's households typically exhibited a more egalitarian division of labor compared to traditional gender roles of her time. She shared domestic responsibilities with her husbands, often challenging societal expectations. However, after having a baby, Mead faced increased domestic demands, which sometimes constrained her ability to engage in fieldwork or pursue her career with the same intensity as before. The arrival of a child often led to a renegotiation of household responsibilities, with Mead taking on more caregiving duties while balancing her professional commitments. Test Bank for A World Full of Women Martha C. Ward, Monica D. Edelstein 9780205957620
