Mary Douglas was a British anthropologist known for her work on culture and symbolism. Born in 1921, she studied the ways in which societies create meaning through rituals and social structures. Her influential book, Purity and Danger, explores concepts of cleanliness and taboo, highlighting how these ideas shape social order. Douglas also contributed to the understanding of risk perception and how people categorize their experiences. She argued that cultural beliefs influence how individuals respond to risks, such as those related to health and the environment. Her insights have had a lasting impact on anthropology and social sciences.