Fafafine: Boys raised as Girls in Samoa

Friend we met in American Samoa more later.

[faatoiaboy]

I was born and raised in Samoa and never knew of any family raising a boy as a girl. Faafafines were born that way and since they were feminine and showing signs of fa'sfafines, most people are very quick to treat them like fa'afafines at that young age until they become comfortable in their unique situations hence becoming to feel and think that they are really different people. Things could have been different if people stopped treating these people like 'fa'afafines' due to their femininity.

[naozzahfavor]

Never heard a thing like this in my whole life in Samoa! Samoan boys can do girls chores but still solid boys.

[jesskaii]

Maika'i. It's apart of a rich history in the Polynesian culture, Fa'afafine, Fakaleitis, Mahuwahine are what help kept that balance in the Family by carrying on the roles of gender that where not at home. Not just only their roles full filled that particular "solution" but also kept on the customs and rituals as well by passing on what they know to the next generation and generation afterwards. It's hard to really define the third gender in the Pacific islands because it was lost when the westerners came. It's all that i was told as I grew up. Not so many know how important back then it was but before I was told that it was considered a blessing to have a Mahuwahine in the family.

[FobDee]

As religious as I am, as we Samoans are, BEFORE religion when it was just the Samoan Culture, Fa'afafine was actually accepted. It was in the Faasamoa to raise a boy as a girl to carry out duties of a lady, especially when there was no fafine in the family. This is what we need to understand, yes it's their choice, BUT this has been apart of the SAMOAN culture without religion. If religion was So important, they wouldn't mix it with Faasamoa like they do today.

[guscols]

true. I didn't know Samoans raised a son as a daughter if they didn't have one of their own. this the first I've heard of it, but then again I was raised in NZ. I always thought you were just born that way.

[randytighe]

☺What a beautifully presented explanation. Wish this was common everywhere

[lofoia]

As a fa'afafine myself I totally agree and support you 100%. My comment was the same as

[KohalaIronWorksCase]

Western ways & the Christian Missionaries brought this part of Polynesian Culture to an end... This closed mindedness resulted in 1 of my best friend's who was Mahu to be murdered in California around 20 or so years ago. I too went through a closed minded stage in my life. But I have become more accepting. I have friends who are Mahu & very sweet individuals who
don't give me a hard time for my being straight. But I love them like family...

[taniaulufani]

Actualy that is true because I was raised to be fa'afafine so were my cousins it is becoming part of the culture

[jacksonschwarzenegger]

I'm samoa but I can't stop laughing when she said fafafine is part of a samoan culture wtf 🤣🤣

[MinestoDKL]

This is new to me...I just assumed that's just how it is...never knew some were just raised to be like daughters...very interesting.

[nmageo]

It is more of a social acceptance rather than a cultural one. Do not confuse the

[PAOLOVALERIO]

very interesting..the same happens in Napoli ( Italia)....these people are called Femminielli

[s.mataic]

The National Geographic did a documentary a few years back about this cultural phenomenon in Samoa. It's the reason why it's quite accepted and part of the culture. It also showed that some Fafas when grown continue that way while others revert back to life as men and marry and have kids of their own. So much Western influence nowadays it's unbelievable!

[puleimau]

Throughout the years our culture has changed to better fit the new coming age or era. weve changed ceremonial gifts etc. Faafafines has been a part of this culture for many years too, so i would say faafafines have their mark in our culture. I would assume that our elders were too ashame to actually look at it that way and actually confirm this in samoan history books but Faafafine plays a very important role in Samoan Culture.

[minim]

This is so true. And this has been true for all Austronesian cultures, even from the Philippines and Indonesia. There was an acceptance of the "third gender" but then new religion came and changed that. But I can still say that they're still more accepted in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Samoa than most of the rest of the world. It's part of our culture

[vaiaisa]

I'm not sure why this fantasy of Samoan "boys" being chosen to be raised as a girl is being passed on as truth by our own people. I am Samoan and have a degree in anthropology and I'm a gay rights activist. The road to equality for fa'afafines lies in the truth. And holding all Samoans accountable to the things that are valued in our culture such as love, respect, generosity, faith and truth is how we will get there. But "All Samoans" include fa'afafines too. Peace and love today.

[leetoriasianini]

am a proud faafafine and am saddened by these false are mostly accepted in Samoan society but no one was raised as a girl....bullshit....being a faafafine is a culture in itself.

[roslinezri]

Yes, I agree, we born naturally beautiful. Pride of brown race. Azri. Malaysia.

[linegrant]

faafafine is not a part of Samoan culture....don't know where you all got this heard of a boy raised as a faafafine to take a role of a girl in a Samoan family....God creat you as a he not a she...feel sorry for your parents. ..I'm Samoan n never heard such things...God doesn't make mistakes