Women in Science

Margaret Mead

Anthropologist

As a student at Barnard College, Margaret Mead (1901-1978) studied the developing science of anthropology, which, she came to believe, "could—and should—be used to help people find their way in a complex world." She traveled that world, living within, studying and comparing a variety of cultures—and writing about them in over thirty books. The vivid, straightforward writing style she revealed in the first of these, Coming of Age in Samoa (1928)—still the best-selling anthropology volume of all time—helped create a reputation and fame that followed Mead throughout her life. A tireless student, teacher, lecturer, humantarian and writer, Mead expressed with her life her own fondest hope: to build "from a hundred cultures, one culture which does what no culture has ever done before—give a place to every human gift."

Be sure to read about how other female, African-American and other scientists helped shape our history and make our world what it is today.