Final answer:
Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict were prominent figures in cultural anthropology, known for their pioneering work in psychological anthropology, gender studies, and the role of culture in shaping personality traits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict were two influential figures in early 20th-century cultural anthropology. Mead is renowned for her work on gender and cultural norms, demonstrating through her fieldwork in New Guinea that gender roles can be culturally constructed rather than merely biologically determined. Her 1935 work, Sex, and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies, challenged prevailing notions of gender roles and was seminal in developing the field of gender studies. Furthermore, Mead was a pioneer in the use of visual media within anthropology, as evidenced in the film Trance and Dance in Bali.
Ruth Benedict, a student of Franz Boas alongside Mead, is best known for her contributions to the field of psychological anthropology, particularly through her analysis of cultural personality. Benedict's work explored how cultures can shape personality traits and her book, The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, remains a key text in the field of cultural studies. Both Mead and Benedict laid critical groundwork that underpins contemporary studies in medical and psychological anthropology, as well as gender and cultural research.
Margaret Mead was also honored for her contributions to anthropology with a U.S. postage stamp, highlighting her status as one of the first female anthropologists recognized for her significant insights.