Samoa

In Samoa, sexual and gender minorities are conceptualized and incorporated into society in ways distinguishable from Western frameworks. The fa’afafine cultural identity refers to Samoans who otherwise would be labeled transgender due to their male biological sex and feminine expression by other international LGBTQ communities. These individuals may actually reject this term in favor of one which recognizes the complexities and distinctiveness of fa’afafine to local Samoa customs and roles. While no estimate has been published of the total sexual and gender minority in Samoa, possibly due to diversity of SGM in non-Western contexts, the President of the Samoan Fa’afafine Association Alex Su’a estimates that roughly 5% of Samoans identity outside of the sexual and gender majority as fa’afafine.

Empirical Studies:

Gaillard, J. C., Sanz, K., Balgos, B.C., Dalisay, S. N. M., Gorman‐Murray, A., Smith, F., & Toelupe, V. (2017). Beyond men and women: A critical perspective on gender and disaster. Disasters, 41(3), 429–447. https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.proxy.lib.duke.edu/doi/epdf/10.1111/disa.12209

Petterson, L. J., Dixson, B. J., Little, A. C., & Vasey, P. L. (2020). Heterogeneity in the Sexual Orientations of Men Who Have Sex with Fa’afafine in Samoa. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(2), 517–529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01646-6

Semenyna, S. W., & Vasey, P. L. (2017). Bullying, Physical Aggression, Gender-Atypicality, and Sexual Orientation in Samoan Males. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(5), 1375–1381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0676-0

Semenyna, S. W., VanderLaan, D. P., Petterson, L. J., & Vasey, P. L. (2017). Familial Patterning and Prevalence of Male Androphilia in Samoa. The Journal of Sex Research, 54(8), 1077–1084. https://www-tandfonline-com.proxy.lib.duke.edu/doi/pdf/10.1080/00224499.2016.1218416?needAccess=true

VanderLaan, D. P., Petterson, L. J., Mallard, R. W., & Vasey, P. L. (2015). (Trans)Gender Role Expectations and Child Care in Samoa. The Journal of Sex Research, 52(6), 710–720. https://www-tandfonline-com.proxy.lib.duke.edu/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2014.884210

Vasey, P. L., Parker, J. L., & VanderLaan, D. P. (2014). Comparative Reproductive Output of Androphilic and Gynephilic Males in Samoa. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43(2), 363–367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0195-9

Articles:

Oct 14, A. F. |, & Read, 2018 | 0 | 7 Min. (2018, October 13). ‘When did you first know you were a fa’afafine?’ E-Tangata. https://e-tangata.co.nz/reflections/when-did-you-first-know-you-were-a-faafafine/

Samoa bans Elton John movie Rocketman from cinemas | Asia Pacific Report. (n.d.). Retrieved July 4, 2020, from https://asiapacificreport.nz/2019/06/10/samoa-bans-elton-john-movie-rocketman-from-cinemas/

Theses:

Schmidt, J. (2010). Migrating Genders: Westernisation, Migration, and Samoan Fa’afafine. Migrating Genders: Westernisation, Migration, and Samoan Fa’afafine.

Thompson, P. K. (n.d.). “SAILI LE TOFA: A SEARCH FORNEW WISDOM” SEXUALITY AND FA’AFAFINE IN THE SAMOAN CONTEXT. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/31bd/93c9c8041482067fec71b93a4a561fccbbe6.pdf