Fakafifine

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Fakafifine
ClassificationGender identity
Other terms
Associated terms
Pinapinaaine
Demographics
CultureNiuean
Regions with significant populations
Polynesia

Fakafifine are people from Niue, who were born assigned male at birth but who have a feminine gender expression. In Niue this is understood as a third gender, culturally specific to the country.[1][2]

Etymology

The term comes from Niuean and is composed of the prefix faka- (in the manner of) and the suffix -fifine (woman) and is defined in Niue Language Dictionary as 'to behave like a woman' or 'to be effeminate'.[3] A related term is fakataane which means 'to behave like a man'.[4]

Fakafifine is included in the acronym MVPFAFF+ (

fa'afafine, akava'ine, fakaleiti or leiti, fakafifine, and other), coined by Phylesha Brown-Acton, to "enhance Pasifika gender diversity awareness in addition to the term LGBTQI".[5][6]

Notable fakafifine

References

  1. .
  2. ^ "Transgender New Zealanders". Ministry of Health NZ. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  3. .
  4. .
  5. ^ "From Fa'afafine to Fakaleitī: Understanding Pacific gender diversity". www.abc.net.au. 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  6. ^ Motuga, Ann-Tauilo (2022-02-23). "National health survey for Pasifika Rainbow+ is now open". TP+. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  7. ^ Brown-Acton, Phylesha; Peteru, Maiava Carmel (2014). Strengthening Solutions for Pasefika Rainbow (PDF). Le Va Pasifika.