The Rodgers (2020)+

Is the term "trans women" accurate for fa'afafine? How might it be considered a form of Western colonialism?

  • No, the term "trans women" is not accurate for fa'afafine. Fa'afafine are typically considered a third gender in Samoan culture. Using the term "trans women" may be viewed as a form of Western colonialism because it imposes Western concepts of gender onto a non-Western culture, potentially oversimplifying or misrepresenting the local understanding of gender identities.

  • This was a quote from “Paradise Bent” where the faafafine defined it as “To actually to label a fa'afafine, gay, transvestites and transsexuals does not fit what a fa'afafine is”

How does the identification of a fa'atama as a trans man illustrate cultural diffusion of identities from the West to non-Western cultures? How does it differ from the definition of fa'afafine?

  • The identification of a fa'atama as a trans man illustrates cultural diffusion, where Western concepts of transgender identity influence non-Western cultures since they call themselves just Transgender, oversimplifying the way the West would do

  • The difference between fa'atama and fa'afafine lies in their self-identification and sexual relations.

  • Fa'atama see themselves as trans with sexual relations with women (FtM)

  • Fa'afafine do not see themselves as trans and typically have sexual relations with men (MtF)

Compare the social acceptance of fa’afafine to fa’atama. How does this illustrate the selective nature of social acceptance for different minority groups?

  • Fa'afafine generally experience higher social acceptance compared to fa'atama

  • This difference illustrates that social acceptance for one minority group does not necessarily extend to all minority groups, even when they share some similarities.

  • It highlights the selective and context-dependent nature of social acceptance, which may be influenced by cultural norms, traditional beliefs, and perceptions of gender roles

  • fa'atama still very new while Fa'afafine have BEEN around, even have Fa'afafine gods.

Who are the Rogers, and how did they come into existence?

  • The Rogers are a group of fa'atama organized by Roger Stanley (Mama Roger), a fa'afafine. Mama Roger pushed for the creation of this organized group of trans men in the Pacific Islands. (FtM)

  • The Rogers are unique as they were one of the first groups to publicly perform as men in a traditional and culturally significant way.

  • Did traditional men dances for festival for Fa'afafine.

Did the emergence of the Rogers require a movement away from traditional culture?

  • The emergence of the Rogers did involve a departure from traditional gender norms as they were one of the first groups to publicly perform as men in the Pacific Islands.

Why does the female partner of a fa’atama/trans man describe them as "a girl" to her brother, and how does the fa’atama/trans man react?.

  • The female partner may describe the fa'atama/trans man as "a girl" to her brother because societal expectations might lead her to conform to traditional gender norms.

  • The fa'atama/trans man may not look offended because they understand that the brother likely expected a conventional heterosexual relationship.

  • The lack of offense might stem from an awareness of societal expectations and a desire to navigate social situations with sensitivity, also because of the understanding that many dont know of the fa'atama (still new kinda) compared to the Fa’afafine