Book: Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies

Introduction
"Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies" is a groundbreaking anthropological work by Margaret Mead, released in 1935. In the book, Mead checks out and compares the gender roles and relationships in three various tribal societies in New Guinea: the Arapesh, the Mundugumor, and the Tchambuli. She argues that culture, rather than biology, is the primary determinant of gender functions and temperament in these societies. This conclusion challenges the traditional wisdom of her time, which presumed that differences in gender roles and character were biologically determined.

The Arapesh: Cooperation and Nurturing
The Arapesh are a group of people residing in the eastern highlands of New Guinea. Mead discovered that both men and women in this society displayed comparable characters, with both sexes displaying cooperative and nurturing behavior. The Arapesh generally lived in little, synergistic neighborhoods and valued tranquil relationships. In this society, men and women both took part in similar tasks, such as child-rearing, gardening, and cooking. Mead concluded that the Arapesh culture fostered a sense of cooperation and nurturing, causing comparable personalities in males and females.

The Mundugumor: Aggression and Competitiveness
The Mundugumor people resides in the northwestern part of New Guinea, near the Sepik River. Mead observed that both men and women in this society showed aggressiveness and competitiveness, which they typically took part in physical fights and arguments. The Mundugumor societal structure was defined by bigger, more complicated organizations and a hierarchical order. Mead found that the social structure required aggressive behavior to maintain status and resources, and that this was equally suitable to both men and women.

In Mundugumor culture, females participated in all elements of tribal life, including warfare, searching, and woodworking. This, along with their aggressive character, contradicted the prevailing view in Western societies that ladies were naturally gentle and nurturing. Mead concluded that the Mundugumor culture placed comparable expectations and needs on both genders, leading to their shared aggressive behavior.

The Tchambuli: Gender Role Reversal
The 3rd society Mead studied was the Tchambuli people, discovered in the western part of New Guinea. In this society, Mead observed a turnaround of standard Western gender functions, with females acting in a dominant and assertive way, and men showing more passive, reliant, and creative behavior. The Tchambuli culture was heavily influenced by their complex social structure, that included a matricentric clan system and the tradition of women controlling their families' financial and political resources.

Mead explained how Tchambuli women were responsible for a lot of jobs associated with food production, trade, and organizing events, while guys concentrated on artistic pursuits, such as sculpting, painting, and music. This division of labor contributed to the unique gender roles observed in their society. Mead argued that the Tchambuli culture's emphasis on women's authority and guys's artistic expression resulted in a personality which opposed standard Western gender expectations.

Conclusion and Impact
"Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies" challenged the established ideologies of gender functions and characters being rooted in biological determinism. By highlighting the cultural distinctions in gender norms and habits amongst the Arapesh, the Mundugumor, and the Tchambuli, Margaret Mead effectively argued that cultural impact, rather than natural biology, figured out gender functions and temperaments.

Mead's work had a significant impact on both the field of sociology and the more comprehensive understanding of gender in society. It added to the growing feminist movement by challenging the prevailing assumptions about women's functions and abilities, assisting to pave the way for higher gender equality in Western societies. Today, "Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies" continues to be an important and prominent operate in the field of anthropology and gender studies.