Final answer:
Margaret Mead's major finding was that culture significantly influences gender roles, challenging the notion of biologically determined gender behaviors, as seen in her studies of the Arapesh and Mundugumor of Papua New Guinea.
Step-by-step explanation:
A major finding of Margaret Mead's studies of the Arapesh and Mundugumor peoples of Papua New Guinea was the profound impact of culture on gender roles and personality. In her work, Mead demonstrated that contrary to Western beliefs about innate gender traits, gender behaviors were highly cultural and not universal.
The Arapesh were characterized by cooperation and gentleness, with both men and women upholding these values, showing an absence of gendered differences in temperament. In stark contrast, the Mundugumor society depicted both genders as competitive and aggressive, which also differed from Western stereotypes. Mead's findings in these societies were initially unexpected, as she had assumed that gendered behaviors were biologically founded.
Her observations contributed to a broader understanding that gender norms are societal constructs and can vary significantly between cultures. Mead's work also included comparisons with the Tchambuli people, further emphasizing cultural variations in gender roles. Her influential research has undergone scrutiny but still stands as a foundation for the study of cultural anthropology and gender diversity.