Question

Margaret Mead spent much of her career documenting the ways that other cultures had gender roles that differed, sometimes radically, from those of twentieth-century America. Why does this matter?

Answer 1

Answer:

It shows that the meaning of masculinity and femininity differ according to different societies and that gender role does not occur naturally.

Explanation:

Margaret Mead spent much of her career documenting the ways that other cultures had gender roles that differed, sometimes radically, from those of twentieth-century America. In her research she found that gender roles is not a natural phenomenon and the meaning of masculinity and femininity differed according to different societies.

Firstly, she found out a range of contrasting gender roles among different cultures and societies. In some societies both men and women were peaceful and calm in nature while in some societies both men and women were equally hostile and aggressive. She also found that in some societies women did most physical and practical work while the men spent more time grooming and decorating themselves. This finding dismiss the notion that gender roles occur naturally.

Gender roles are a factor of cultural pattern in each and every society and that the understanding of masculinity and femininity varies according to different cultures and customs of a society.