Who Is Margaret Mead? Age, Biography and Wiki
Margaret Mead was born on December 16, 1901, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She became one of the most prominent cultural anthropologists of the 20th century, known for her studies of the social and cultural aspects of human behavior. Mead's influential work, particularly her research in Samoa and New Guinea, helped to shape contemporary views on gender roles and adolescence. She continued to be an advocate for cultural understanding until her passing in 1978. In 2025, we reflect on her significant contributions to anthropology and how her ideas continue to resonate in modern society.
| Occupation | Anthropologist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 16, 1901 |
| Age | 76 Years |
| Birth Place | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 15 November, 1978 |
| Died Place | New York City, U.S. |
Popularity
Margaret Mead's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Although specific details about Margaret Mead's height and weight during her lifetime are not well-documented, she was often described as having a petite and approachable demeanor. As an anthropologist, her focus was not on physical appearance but rather the cultural dynamics and human behaviors that shape societies worldwide.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Margaret Mead had a rich personal life, including three marriages. Her first marriage was to artist and writer Luther Cressman (1923-1928). In 1950, she married anthropologist Reynolds Farley, and after their divorce, she married psychologist Gregory Bateson in 1936, with whom she collaborated on various projects. Mead was known to have had several romantic relationships, but her professional life often took precedence. As of 2025, details about her romantic engagements are part of historical records rather than current relationship statuses.
Her father, Edward Sherwood Mead, was a professor of finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and her mother, Emily (née Fogg) Mead, was a sociologist who studied Italian immigrants. Her sister Katharine (1906–1907) died at the age of nine months.
That was a traumatic event for Mead, who had named the girl, and thoughts of her lost sister permeated her daydreams for many years.
Net Worth and Salary
While it is difficult to assess Margaret Mead's net worth during her lifetime accurately, she enjoyed considerable success throughout her career. By the time of her death, she was a well-respected public figure, which likely afforded her a stable financial situation. Today, her legacy and influence in anthropology continue to inspire generations, examining the economic aspects of cultural evolution and societal structures through her writings and teachings.
Career, Business, and Investments
Margaret Mead's career spanned several decades, during which she produced numerous books and articles that dissected cultural norms and human behavior. Notable works include Coming of Age in Samoa and Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies. Mead was a pioneer in the field of anthropology, advocating for the importance of fieldwork and participant observation. She also served as a curator and lecturer at the American Museum of Natural History and was a prominent figure in public life, discussing social issues on various media platforms.
Mead's conversations on cultural relativism, gender, and the human experience continue to impact various fields, including sociology, psychology, and education.
In 1929, Mead and Fortune visited Manus, now the northernmost province of Papua New Guinea, and traveled there by boat from Rabaul. She amply describes her stay there in her autobiography, and it is mentioned in her 1984 biography by Jane Howard. On Manus, she studied the Manus people of the south coast village of Peri.
"Over the next five decades Mead would come back oftener to Peri than to any other field site of her career.'
Social Network
Margaret Mead was known for her active involvement in media and public platforms, where she engaged in discussions regarding social issues and anthropological insights. She served as a speaker at various conferences and appeared on television, helping to demystify anthropology for the general public. Margaret Mead's influence can still be felt in the digital age, with many of her teachings being shared on social media platforms, thus reaching a new generation of learners and enthusiasts.
During World War II, Mead along with other social scientists like Gregory Bateson and Ruth Benedict, took on several different responsibilities. In 1940, Mead joined the Committee for National Morale.
In 1941, she also contributed to an essay that was released in the Applied Anthropology, which created strategies to help produce propaganda with the intent of raising national morale.
In 1942, Mead served as the executive director of the Committee on Food Habits of the National Research Council, which served to gather data on American citizens ability to get food and their overall diet during the war.
During World War II, Mead also served on the Institute for Intercultural Studies (IIS), whose prime objective was to research the “national character” of the Axis powers to try and foster peace between the two sides. She was curator of ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History from 1946 to 1969.
She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1948, the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1975, and the American Philosophical Society in 1977.
She taught at The New School and Columbia University, where she was an adjunct professor from 1954 to 1978 and a professor of anthropology and chair of the Division of Social Sciences at Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus from 1968 to 1970, founding their anthropology department.
In 1970, she joined the faculty of the University of Rhode Island as a Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Anthropology.
Education
Margaret Mead was academically distinguished, earning her Bachelor's degree from Barnard College in 1923, followed by a Master's degree in Sociology from Columbia University in 1924, and finally a Ph.D. in anthropology from Columbia in 1929. Her education not only fostered her interest in cultural anthropology but also equipped her with the necessary skills to conduct groundbreaking research. Mead's academic foundation laid the groundwork for her future explorations in various cultures, which helped define her legacy in anthropology.
She earned her bachelor's degree at Barnard College of Columbia University and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia. Mead served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1975.
