Samoa's 'third gender' delicately balances sex and religion by barrett_ink
APIA, Samoa - Keyonce Lee Hang is busy finishing preparations for the to’ona’i, a traditional lunch served after Sunday church in Samoa, and attending to her elderly, bed-ridden grandmother.
Outside the South Pacific, particularly the Polynesian islands, it is a largely misunderstood community, according to Lee Hang, who works for the government’s fisheries department. When a boy is noticeably effeminate, he will likely be taught the traditional duties of Samoan women, which often means working within the house.
All fa’afafine interviewed by Reuters dismissed widely reported claims that fa’afafine could be a designated role by families with lots of sons, as a substitute for a daughter.Modern fa’afafine have won favor with large parts of the Samoan community for their hard work, especially in leading charitable causes and taking on caring roles, such as looking after the elderly.
“Most of us are relied on as leaders of our church denominations’ choir groups, youth groups, even the decorators and planners of activities,” said Su’a.
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