Faʻafafine
Leaders of the Samoa Fa’afafine Association with U.S. Ambassador David Huebner in 2011 | |||||||
| Etymology | Samoan prefix faʻa-, meaning "in the manner of" + fafine, meaning "woman" | ||||||
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| Classification | Gender identity | ||||||
| Other terms | |||||||
| Synonyms | Fakafāfine, Fiafifine, Fakafifine | ||||||
| Associated terms | Fakaleiti, two-spirit, trans woman, Akava'ine, Māhū | ||||||
| Demographics | |||||||
| Culture | Samoan | ||||||
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Faʻafafine (Samoan pronunciation: [faʔafafine]; lit. 'in the manner of a woman') are natal males who align with a third gender or feminine gender role in Samoa. Fa'afafine are not assigned the role at birth, nor raised as girls due to a lack of daughters, as is often claimed in western media. Rather, their femininity emerges in early childhood, and Samoans recognize them as distinct from typical boys.
Fa'afafine are androphilic (attracted to males) and are usually very feminine. They comprise up to 3.5% of the natal male population, similar to the number of androphilic natal males in the west.
Most self-identify as fa’afafine, rather than men, while a small number identify as women. However, they recognize that they are distinct from females.
Fa'afafine enjoy relatively high levels of acceptance in Samoa. They can be seen in all areas of Samoan society, whether assisting as caregivers or working in government. Samoa's former Prime Minister Malielegaoi spoke publicly about the value of Fa'afafine in Samoan society.