American society Quote by Margaret Mead
“American society is very like a fish society. . . . Among certain species of fish, the only thing which determines order of dominance is length of time in the fishbowl. The oldest resident picks on the newest resident, and if the newest resident is removed to a new bowl, he, as oldest resident, will pick on the newcomers.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Unknown, cultural commentary
Society mirrors a fishbowl where dominance is based on tenure, with elders dominating newcomers, and the cycle repeats when individuals move to new groups.
In simple terms: Older members dominate newer ones, and the pattern repeats elsewhere.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge hierarchical dominance based on seniority.
Themes
hierarchy
social order
seniority
power dynamics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
observational
When to use this quote
- workplace onboarding
- community leadership
- online forums
- school classes
Key Concepts
cultural anthropology
social psychology
group dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seniority affect fairness in your group?
- What can break the cycle of dominance?
A Different Perspective
The analogy oversimplifies complex social structures and ignores merit‑based influence.
![“One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and not be held responsible. [Cultural Factors in the Cause of Pathological Homicide. Bulletin of Menninger Clinic ]” quote by Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2f6/margaret-mead-982_animal-cruelty_one-of-the-most-dangerous-things-that-ca_126314.jpg)
![“The Sexual plight of these children [those adolescents experimenting sexually] is officially not mentioned. The revolutionary attack on hypocrisy by Ibsen, Freud, Ellis, Dreiser, did not succeed this far. Is it an eccentric opinion that an important part of the kids' restiveness in school from the…” quote by Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b5b/paul-goodman-7755_american-society_the-sexual-plight-of-these-children-thos_88140.jpg)
