We may say that many, if not all, of the personality traits which we have called masculine or feminine are as lightly linked to sex as are the clothing, the manners, and the form of headdress that a society at a given period assigns to either sex.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Masculine and feminine traits are mostly social constructs, similar to clothing or manners.
- In plain terms
- Gender traits are learned like clothes, not biological.
- What can you take from it?
- Gender roles are socially assigned, not innate.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is nature vs nurture?
- Are traits flexible?
Another view
Some biological differences may still influence behavior.
More from Margaret Mead
We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare our schools for what no one knows yet.
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