`Ricardo Greffin

Ms. Rosario Ms. Scheter

Language & Composition

March 19, 2018

“Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies”

Rhetorical Text Essay

In Margaret Mead’s text “Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies” she argues

that gender roles are a social construct that is taught not innate. Mead writes in an informative

tone for the men and women who would be reading her book.. In the text she uses the rhetorical

appeal logos and ethos. Logos is the rhetorical appeal that uses logic to defend the author’s

central idea. Ethos is the rhetorical appeal that uses credibility and character to defend the

author’s argument. The author’s purpose is to inform the reader in order to change how society

views gender roles.

You can see in her book Mead uses several examples of logos. In the text it reads “We

found men, as well as women, trained to be co-operative… demands of others”. This quote is

saying how there isn’t a difference between men and women when it comes to their needs and

demands. The quote is an example of logos because Margaret uses studies that she tested to

support her claim. Later in the text it’s states “The material suggests that we may say that

many… masculine or feminine are as likely linked to sex as are the clothing … either sex”. This

quote is also a logos example because Mead uses her test results to come to the conclusion that

gender roles were most likely created by society.

 In Margaret Mead’s book she expresses examples the rhetorical appeal ethos. In the first

sentence of the text it reads “The work of anthropologist Margaret Mead… research and debate

on gender”. The previous quote is an example of ethos because its states that Mead is an

anthropologist. Meaning that she has credibility which is ethos. Later in the reading it states

“Based on her studies of three ‘primitive peoples’ in New Guinea… men’s behavior”. This is

also traits of ethos because Mead is experienced making her a more credible source.

In conclusion Margaret Mead uses the rhetorical appeals logos and ethos to support her

claim. She was able to support her beliefs that gender roles are a social construct with her several

test and credible background.