FROM MEADS,MARGARET FIELD NOTES - WHAT COUNTED AS SEX IN SAMOA

Derek Freeman based his criticism of Margaret Mead's claim of sexual f reedom for adolescent girls in Samoa on two premises. The first-that t here was a ''cult of virginity''-has been disproved by scholars. The s econd-that the low incidence of premarital pregnancy precluded sexual freedom-has not been adequately addressed. Sexual freedom and a low in cidence of pregnancy were not mutually exclusive. The key lies in cons ideration of what counted as sex in Samoa at the time.