description Marilyn Strathern Overview
Marilyn Strathern (born 1941) is a British anthropologist whose work has profoundly influenced feminist anthropology and the study of kinship, gender, and social institutions. Her ethnographic research focuses primarily on the Melanesian societies of Papua New Guinea, specifically the Hagen people. In her landmark 1988 book, 'The Gender of the Gift,' Strathern challenged Western assumptions of individualism and commodity exchange, arguing that Melanesian personhood is fundamentally constructed through social relations and exchanges.
insights Ranking position
Marilyn Strathern ranks #16 of 304 in the Anthropologist ranking, behind Marshall Sahlins, ahead of Ruth Benedict.
help Marilyn Strathern FAQ
What is Marilyn Strathern's book "The Gender of the Gift" about?
Published in 1988, "The Gender of the Gift" reanalyzes Melanesian systems of exchange and personhood to argue that Western categories of gender and individuality do not map neatly onto Melanesian social life. The book is considered a landmark in feminist anthropology and the anthropology of Melanesia.
Where did Marilyn Strathern conduct ethnographic fieldwork?
Strathern conducted extensive fieldwork among the Hagen people of Mount Hagen in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Her research on kinship, gender relations, and exchange systems in Melanesian societies has profoundly shaped the anthropology of the region.
What university is Marilyn Strathern associated with?
Strathern served as the William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge and was Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential British anthropologists of the late 20th century.
When was Marilyn Strathern born?
Strathern was born in 1941 and has been active in anthropology since the 1960s. Her long and prolific career has made her a central figure in feminist anthropology, the anthropology of kinship, and science and technology studies.
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