Fa'afafine

Definition

Fa'afafine is a third-gender identity and role recognized in Samoan culture, describing individuals who are biologically male but embody both masculine and feminine traits and behaviors. This term is central to understanding gender and sexuality in Samoan society.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Fa'afafine individuals are typically assigned male at birth but embrace a feminine gender expression and often take on traditionally female roles and responsibilities within Samoan society.
2. The fa'afafine identity is widely accepted and integrated into Samoan culture, with fa'afafine individuals often serving as caregivers, entertainers, and ceremonial leaders.
3. Samoan culture recognizes fa'afafine as a distinct third gender, neither strictly male nor female, but a unique gender identity and expression.
4. Fa'afafine individuals may undergo social and/or physical transition, but the fa'afafine identity is not contingent on medical or surgical interventions.
5. The acceptance and integration of fa'afafine in Samoan society stands in contrast to the marginalization and stigmatization of LGBTQ+ individuals in many Western cultures.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of fa'afafine relates to the topic of sex, gender, and sexuality in anthropology.
  • The fa'afafine identity in Samoan culture challenges the Western gender binary and demonstrates how different cultures can recognize and integrate diverse gender expressions and identities. As a third-gender role, fa'afafine provides an example of how gender and sexuality are socially constructed and can vary across cultural contexts. Understanding the acceptance and integration of fa'afafine in Samoan society is crucial for anthropologists studying the diversity of human sex, gender, and sexuality.
• Analyze how the fa'afafine identity and experience relates to the field of queer anthropology.
  • Queer anthropology examines the cultural and social dimensions of gender and sexuality, particularly the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. The fa'afafine identity in Samoan culture is a prime example of how non-binary gender expressions and identities are recognized and integrated within certain cultural contexts. Studying the fa'afafine role and the societal acceptance of this third gender provides valuable insights for queer anthropologists seeking to understand the diversity of human gender and sexual diversity across cultures.
• Evaluate the significance of the fa'afafine identity in challenging Western-centric perspectives on gender and sexuality in anthropology.
  • The fa'afafine identity in Samoan culture challenges the Western gender binary and heteronormative assumptions that have historically dominated the field of anthropology. By recognizing a third gender role that transcends the male-female dichotomy, the fa'afafine example demonstrates the limitations of imposing Western constructs of gender and sexuality onto other cultural contexts. Studying the fa'afafine identity and its integration within Samoan society is crucial for anthropologists to critically examine their own biases and develop a more inclusive, culturally-relative understanding of the diversity of human gender and sexual expression.

Related terms

Third Gender: A concept recognized in some cultures that goes beyond the male-female gender binary, acknowledging additional gender identities and expressions.

Gender Expression: The way an individual outwardly expresses their gender identity through clothing, behavior, interests, and other means.

Samoan Culture: The traditional customs, beliefs, and way of life of the Samoan people, an Oceanic ethnic group native to the Samoan Islands.