Fa'afafine
Encyclopedia
Fa'afafine may be viewed as a third gender
specific to Samoa
n culture.
Fa'afafine are biological males who have a strong feminine gender orientation, which the Samoan parents recognize quite early in childhood. Not always are they raised as female children or rather 'third gender' children. This is on the traditional expectation that to be born a male or son, you are expected to be sexually prowess of the female sex. Contrary to a female, she is required to be reserved and her virginity is highly valued hence they are always protected by their brothers and its taboo for them to be seen outdoors during nighttime. For the fa'afatine, this is not so. He is obviously not attracted to the female sex and contrary to their sisters, they roam the night and are often sexually active.
While not all fa'afafine possess the talent of performing both males and females tasks, fa'afafine are often seen doing indoors work as their sisters. It is something which is not always encouraged or discouraged in the traditional fa'asamoa
(Samoan society).
The word fa'afafine includes the causative prefix "fa'a", meaning "in the manner of", and the word fafine, meaning "woman". It is cognate
with linguistically related words in other Polynesian languages, such as the Tongan fakafefine (also fakaleiti
), the Maori whakawahine, the Cook Islands Maori akava'ine
and Hawaiian mahu. The Samoan slangword mala (or "devastation", by way of the Samoan Bible) is in less frequent use for fa'afafine.
It is a mistake to attribute a Western interpretation and mislabel the fa’afafine as “gay” or “homosexual”. Fa'afafine have a varied sexual life, where they may have sex with women but mostly with men. It is taboo among the fa'afafine to have sex with another fa'afafine.
Being a fa'afafine is never a choice. It is a cultural identity that indicates the diversity of the Samoan society even before Christianity reached its shores.
A sexual relationship between a Fa'afine (third gender) and a Tane (man), is not considered as one between the 'same-genders,' but rather between two different genders and thus are not considered homosexual in Samoan society. This is also the objective view by most fa'afafine. Ultimately, English language terms can only approximate Samoan terms and do not encompass the cultural basis of Samoan sexuality and gender.
Fa'afafine are taking part in the development of contemporary Oceania or Pacific Islander arts, as in the works of painter and writer Dan Taulapapa McMullin, artist and curator Shigeyuki Kihara
, performance artist Buckwheat, poet and performance artist Brian Fuata, and fashion artist Lindah Lepou. Recent exhibitions of indigenous LGBT artists including fa'afafine, were the 2006 Le Vasa Art Exhibition in San Francisco, 2007 Measina Fa'afafine Art Exhibition in Auckland, and the 2008 Hand in Hand Art Exhibition in Sydney.
New Zealand
animated television series bro'Town
includes a fa'afafine character named Brother Ken, a school principal, and personal friend of many well-known New Zealanders. Brother Ken appears in nearly every episode throughout the five seasons.
Samoan writer Sia Figiel
's novel Where We Once Belonged includes a fa'afafine character named Sugar Shirley, known for her exploits on the rugby field.
Third gender
The terms third gender and third sex describe individuals who are categorized as neither man nor woman, as well as the social category present in those societies who recognize three or more genders...
specific to Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n culture.
Fa'afafine are biological males who have a strong feminine gender orientation, which the Samoan parents recognize quite early in childhood. Not always are they raised as female children or rather 'third gender' children. This is on the traditional expectation that to be born a male or son, you are expected to be sexually prowess of the female sex. Contrary to a female, she is required to be reserved and her virginity is highly valued hence they are always protected by their brothers and its taboo for them to be seen outdoors during nighttime. For the fa'afatine, this is not so. He is obviously not attracted to the female sex and contrary to their sisters, they roam the night and are often sexually active.
While not all fa'afafine possess the talent of performing both males and females tasks, fa'afafine are often seen doing indoors work as their sisters. It is something which is not always encouraged or discouraged in the traditional fa'asamoa
Fa'asamoa
Fa'asamoa literally means the ways of Samoa. Fa'a is a Samoan prefix that can be translated to English as 'the ways of'. Fa'a could also mean 'to do' or 'to implement' as in the word Fa'atonu .-Concept:...
(Samoan society).
The word fa'afafine includes the causative prefix "fa'a", meaning "in the manner of", and the word fafine, meaning "woman". It is cognate
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
with linguistically related words in other Polynesian languages, such as the Tongan fakafefine (also fakaleiti
Fakaleiti
A fakaleiti is a Tongan male who behaves in effeminate ways, in contrast to mainstream Tongan men, who tend to be very masculine....
), the Maori whakawahine, the Cook Islands Maori akava'ine
Akava'ine
An akava'ine or 'akava'ine is a Cook Islands Māori word used to describe transgender or transsexual women in the Cook Islands.It can also refer to women who have an inflated opinion of themselves, draw attention to themselves in ways that disrupt groupness, don't heed others advice, or who act in...
and Hawaiian mahu. The Samoan slangword mala (or "devastation", by way of the Samoan Bible) is in less frequent use for fa'afafine.
Fa'afafine role in Samoan society
Fa'afafine are known for their hard work and dedication to the family, in the Samoan tradition of tautua. Ideas of the family in Samoa and Polynesia are markedly different from Western constructions of family, and include all the members of a sa, or a communal family within the fa'amatai family systems.It is a mistake to attribute a Western interpretation and mislabel the fa’afafine as “gay” or “homosexual”. Fa'afafine have a varied sexual life, where they may have sex with women but mostly with men. It is taboo among the fa'afafine to have sex with another fa'afafine.
Being a fa'afafine is never a choice. It is a cultural identity that indicates the diversity of the Samoan society even before Christianity reached its shores.
A sexual relationship between a Fa'afine (third gender) and a Tane (man), is not considered as one between the 'same-genders,' but rather between two different genders and thus are not considered homosexual in Samoan society. This is also the objective view by most fa'afafine. Ultimately, English language terms can only approximate Samoan terms and do not encompass the cultural basis of Samoan sexuality and gender.
Contemporary Fa'afafine
Fa'afafine in the Samoa Islands, and internationally among Samoan diaspora, have formed several organizations since the 1980's. Currently prominent ones are Samoan Fa'afafine Organization of independent Samoa, SOFIA of American Samoa, and UTOPIA of San Francisco and Honolulu. These organizations are involved in political action and cultural functions. The Samoan Fa'afafine Organization of independent Samoa is working to remove criminal laws regarding homosexuality and transgenderism that remain from New Zealand colonial administration, laws that no longer apply in New Zealand itself.Fa'afafine are taking part in the development of contemporary Oceania or Pacific Islander arts, as in the works of painter and writer Dan Taulapapa McMullin, artist and curator Shigeyuki Kihara
Shigeyuki Kihara
Shigeyuki Kihara is a contemporary artist and the first New Zealander to hold a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Titled Shigeyuki Kihara: Living Photographs, the exhibition opened from 7 October 2008 to 1 February 2009...
, performance artist Buckwheat, poet and performance artist Brian Fuata, and fashion artist Lindah Lepou. Recent exhibitions of indigenous LGBT artists including fa'afafine, were the 2006 Le Vasa Art Exhibition in San Francisco, 2007 Measina Fa'afafine Art Exhibition in Auckland, and the 2008 Hand in Hand Art Exhibition in Sydney.
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
animated television series bro'Town
Bro'Town
bro'Town is a New Zealand Television animated series. The show used a comedy based format, targeted at a young adult audience.The series is set amongst New Zealand's fast growing Pacific Islander community, and focuses on a central cast of five young boys...
includes a fa'afafine character named Brother Ken, a school principal, and personal friend of many well-known New Zealanders. Brother Ken appears in nearly every episode throughout the five seasons.
Samoan writer Sia Figiel
Sia Figiel
Sia Figiel is a contemporary Samoan novelist, poet, and painter.Sia Figiel grew up amidst the traditional Samoan singing and poetry which heavily influenced her writing. Her formal schooling was conducted in Samoa and New Zealand where she also began a BA which was completed at Whitworth College...
's novel Where We Once Belonged includes a fa'afafine character named Sugar Shirley, known for her exploits on the rugby field.
External links
- Samoa Faafafine Association
- American Samoa Faafafine organization
- UTOPIA San Francisco organization of fa'afafine, fakaleiti and mahu
- UTOPIA Hawaii organization of mahu, fa'afafine, and fakaleiti
- ABC 2005 Fa'afafine - Samoan boys brought up as girls
- Love Life Fono 2, also known as Fa'afafine Fono gathering
- Fa'afafine artist and writer Dan Taulapapa McMullin