Global Icons: Margaret Mead

The transcript tells the story of a girl from Philadelphia who learns about human differences by observing her family and traveling the world. She becomes fascinated by cultural differences and questions societal beliefs about human nature. Her experiences lead her to realize that culture, not universal human nature, governs behavior. This understanding inspires her to advocate for societal change towards equality. The transcript highlights Margaret Mead's contributions to anthropology and her fight against racism and gender stereotyping, earning her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

What initially sparked the girl's interest in understanding differences among people?

• Observing her brothers and sisters

• Her travels around the world

• Reading books about different cultures

• Attending cultural festivals

What did the girl realize about human nature after observing different societies?

• All societies have the same cultural practices

• Culture, not universal human nature, shapes behavior

• Human nature is governed by universal laws

• Human nature is the same across all cultures

Which of the following beliefs did the girl start to question?

• Men are natural leaders

• Technology is the key to progress

• Art is a universal language

• Education is unnecessary

What was one of Margaret Mead's contributions to society upon her return to America?

• She became a famous novelist

• She invented a new language

• She started a new religion

• She promoted cultural understanding and equality

What prestigious award was Margaret Mead posthumously given?

• Presidential Medal of Freedom

• Pulitzer Prize

• Nobel Peace Prize

• Grammy Award