Fa’afafine
third gender in Samoan culture / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Samoa, androphilic males (males sexually attracted to men) are referred to as fa’afafine. Translated into English, fa’afafine means “in the manner of a woman.” Most self-identify as fa’afafine, not as men.[1]
There are myths outside of Samoa that Fa'afafine are selected to be raised as females when a family does not have enough sons,[2][3] however evidence shows they are recognised for their feminine behavior early in their lives. Evidence indicates that Fa'afafine are the equivalent to feminine androphilic men in the west (typically these are gay men in western culture).[1]