Ruth Landes ( October 8 , 1908 , New York City - February 11 , 1991 , Ontario , Canada ) was an American cultural anthropologist best known for studies on Brazilian candomblÃ cults and her published study on the topic , City of Women ( 1947 ) . Ruth Landes ( October 8 , 1908 , New York City - February 11 , 1991 , Hamilton , Ontario , Canada ) was an American cultural anthropologist best known for studies on Brazilian candomblÃ cults and her published study on the topic , City of Women ( 1947 ) .