Being a Teine

Recently, in America, there has been a lot of talk around gender equality. Women have come a long way in terms of equality, but have far to go. Being a female is a large part of my identity. Anytime someone has tried to help me carry or fix something, I have always thought it was because I was a female and refused the help. I wanted to prove that being female doesn’t mean I’m weak.

Being in Samoa, being female has continued to be a strong part of my identity and something that I am constantly reminded of. Gender inequality tends to be more prominent here with clear gender roles. Obviously, there are always exceptions to the rule, but gender inequality is something I have noticed and been subjected to since being here.

 

During pre-service training, my host family would not allow me to go anywhere alone. I always had to have someone go with me, even if I was just going down the street to the shop. The majority of the male volunteers did not get subjected to this same treatment. I know that part of it was about my safety, but I also felt like I was being treated like a dainty little flower, which I am not.

In my village, I have a lot of freedom. I can go mostly where I want and mostly when I want. This was a nice change of pace. I do, however, end up doing a lot of chores at my house. I clean and do my own laundry and cooking. I know several other female volunteers who do chores at their houses as well. I do not know as many male volunteers who even do their own laundry. 

 

When it comes to clothing, women are expected to cover up in Samoa. While in my village, I can run and walk in leggings and a t-shirt, however, any other time, I am expected to wear a lavalava in my village. I even wear a lavalava when I bike. I am typically expected to keep my knees and shoulders covered when out in my village. Males, in general, as well as male volunteers can easily walk around their village in shorts and tank tops (or no shirts) without anyone saying anything.

 

While this has not happened to me, I know other female volunteers who have had the experience of a male volunteer coming to visit her school and the male will get automatic respect. Male teachers at my school are called Mister, yet female teachers are never called Miss or Mrs. This ties in with the fact that in some villages, females are not allowed to get matai (chief) titles. Typically males hold matai titles and even when females have a matai title, they do not out number the males.

 

Gender inequality is more pronounced here than I am used to. This is not to say that women have no power or authority in Samoa. I believe, in fact, that women have more power than the majority of the males even realize. Samoan women are some of the strongest women I have ever met and I have no doubt that one day, things will change and women will be seen more as equals.