Jim Beaux
10-18-2008, 03:47 PM
[NB American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the US, southeast of the independent state of Samoa. The article in the link refers to Samoa, almost certainly should be American Samoa, but it’s also almost certain the fa’afafine would exist in both.]
Fa'afafine (fah-fah fee-nay). Fa'afafine roughly translates as "like a woman."
Samoa and Hawaii are part of the Polynesian Islands chain. Since Honolulu is Polynesia's largest urban sprawl, many fa'afafine thrive on American soil. These ladies are dramatically different from their transgender sisters living in the mainland.
"In America, there's so much discrimination. It doesn't make any sense. In Samoa, we are treated with love, respect and honor. 'Fa'fafine' isn't a disgraceful term. In fact, we are the cornerstones of our families."
"There is no 'gay' in Samoa," Shevon tells me. "There's fa'fafine."
Before the London Missionary Society tried to merge its Biblical beliefs into Samoan culture (circa 1840), the fa'fafine were always thought to keep families united. In Samoa, they serve as schoolteachers, choirmasters, babysitters, community service workers and caregivers for elderly relatives. Since the fa'afafine understand both the male and the female, they become a mutual connection between genders.
"But we don't have intercourse the way gay men do: There's no penetration. We face each other, and cross our legs in a certain way, and the man fucks us between our legs. It's wonderful."
Samoan culture could never disown a family member because they're gay. Since their island is only 27 (Wiki says 77) square miles, it would be difficult to stay out of each other's way. Samoan families are big — 10 or more siblings are common. So a clan with a fa'fafine or
two isn't rare.
Both Tiare and Shevon have lived and worked in the continental U.S. and say they don't have much in common with drag queens or the transgender community. "In Samoa, we would never think of becoming 'showgirls.' In America, transgender is considered 'fringe.' I grew up thinking I needed to go to school and be a strong professional. Nothing less," Shevon says.
But Shevon and Tiare say American gay culture has influenced their aspirations. They've both considered sexual reassignment surgery but say they enjoy their original plumbing way too much.
Now in their fourth decades, Shevon and Tiare still dream about starting families and marrying men — "But straight men. We're not attracted to men who like other men," Tiare explains.
They mostly identify as women. But both Shevon and Tiare say their brothers and fathers refer to them by their boy names. All the women in the family call them by their fa'fafine names. Since the fa'fafine are expected to take care of elderly relatives, what happens when parents die? Because they can't marry, are their inheritance rights forfeited?
"Not at all. After all, like our passports say, we are biologically male. So in the eyes of the law, we are treated as men," Shavon says.
More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_9933.php
Fa'afafine (fah-fah fee-nay). Fa'afafine roughly translates as "like a woman."
Samoa and Hawaii are part of the Polynesian Islands chain. Since Honolulu is Polynesia's largest urban sprawl, many fa'afafine thrive on American soil. These ladies are dramatically different from their transgender sisters living in the mainland.
"In America, there's so much discrimination. It doesn't make any sense. In Samoa, we are treated with love, respect and honor. 'Fa'fafine' isn't a disgraceful term. In fact, we are the cornerstones of our families."
"There is no 'gay' in Samoa," Shevon tells me. "There's fa'fafine."
Before the London Missionary Society tried to merge its Biblical beliefs into Samoan culture (circa 1840), the fa'fafine were always thought to keep families united. In Samoa, they serve as schoolteachers, choirmasters, babysitters, community service workers and caregivers for elderly relatives. Since the fa'afafine understand both the male and the female, they become a mutual connection between genders.
"But we don't have intercourse the way gay men do: There's no penetration. We face each other, and cross our legs in a certain way, and the man fucks us between our legs. It's wonderful."
Samoan culture could never disown a family member because they're gay. Since their island is only 27 (Wiki says 77) square miles, it would be difficult to stay out of each other's way. Samoan families are big — 10 or more siblings are common. So a clan with a fa'fafine or
two isn't rare.
Both Tiare and Shevon have lived and worked in the continental U.S. and say they don't have much in common with drag queens or the transgender community. "In Samoa, we would never think of becoming 'showgirls.' In America, transgender is considered 'fringe.' I grew up thinking I needed to go to school and be a strong professional. Nothing less," Shevon says.
But Shevon and Tiare say American gay culture has influenced their aspirations. They've both considered sexual reassignment surgery but say they enjoy their original plumbing way too much.
Now in their fourth decades, Shevon and Tiare still dream about starting families and marrying men — "But straight men. We're not attracted to men who like other men," Tiare explains.
They mostly identify as women. But both Shevon and Tiare say their brothers and fathers refer to them by their boy names. All the women in the family call them by their fa'fafine names. Since the fa'fafine are expected to take care of elderly relatives, what happens when parents die? Because they can't marry, are their inheritance rights forfeited?
"Not at all. After all, like our passports say, we are biologically male. So in the eyes of the law, we are treated as men," Shavon says.
More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_9933.php