fa'afafine

As obvious examples of its plasticity, we might look at the fakaleiti of Tonga and the fa'afafine of Sāmoa, transsexuals who, far from marginalized in those countries, have privileged status.

Archive 2008-05-01 2008

As obvious examples of its plasticity, we might look at the fakaleiti of Tonga and the fa'afafine of Sāmoa, transsexuals who, far from marginalized in those countries, have privileged status.

Another human target for conservatives 2008

According to 30-year-old Alex Su'a, who heads the Samoa Fa'afafine Society, there are 1,500 fa'afafine in Samoa and American Samoa.

NYT > Home Page By JAMES MONTAGUE 2011

Saelua agreed: In Samoa the fa'afafine are very reliable.

NYT > Home Page By JAMES MONTAGUE 2011

Saelua is part of the fa'afafine, biological males who identify themselves as a third sex in Polynesian culture.

NYT > Home Page By JAMES MONTAGUE 2011

"To be fa'afafine you have to be Samoan, born a man, feel you are a woman, be sexually attracted to males and, importantly, proud to be called and labeled fa'afafine," Su'a said.

NYT > Home Page By JAMES MONTAGUE 2011

"In the Samoan way, lots of people are making jokes about them," he added in reference to the fa'afafine.

NYT > Home Page By JAMES MONTAGUE 2011

They are the caretakers of the elders because their brothers and sisters get married, but the fa'afafine traditionally don't.

NYT > Home Page By JAMES MONTAGUE 2011

Saelua agreed: In Samoa the fa'afafine are very reliable.

NYT > Home Page By JAMES MONTAGUE 2011

"The fa'afafine are culturally accepted," he said.

NYT > Home Page By JAMES MONTAGUE 2011

In Sāmoa, there are the fa’afafine: assigned male at birth individuals with a third gender identity who encompass both feminine and masculine qualities.

"I'll Be in Transition Forever": Trans-masculine and Non-binary People Talk Identity, Affirmation, and More Condé Nast 2018