Final answer:
The reference material does not specifically detail how Margaret Mead's mother influenced her decision to study other people, but it does note how Mead's research inspired Esther Newton and others.
Step-by-step explanation:
The influence of Margaret Mead's mother on her decision to study other people is not explicitly mentioned in the provided reference material. However, it is known that Margaret Mead was a pioneering cultural anthropologist who conducted extensive research on gender and social norms in various cultures. Influences on her choice of study and career could have originated from various aspects of her upbringing and personal experiences during her academic development. Mead's work resonated with many individuals, including Esther Newton, who found parallels and inspiration in Mead's writings for her own studies in anthropology and her personal understanding of gender categories. As a college student, Mead came across the work of anthropologist Margaret Mead, particularly Mead's relativistic portrayal of the flexibility of gender categories. This gave Mead consolation and ignited her interest in anthropology, leading her to pursue graduate studies in anthropology to further explore the subject.