It is important to note however that gender issues vary between Pacific Island countries according to their levels of economic development; social and cultural norms; levels of population, migration and emigration; and political climate.
What is gender identity like in the Pacific region?
There are diverse and constantly shifting expressions of gender identity and sexual identity in the Pacific island region. Identity expressions that would be defined as homosexual or transgendered using western vocabulary often fulfilled important and well-established cultural or ritual functions within various parts of the Pacific.
Is there a'third gender'in the Pacific?
She added that the Pacific's gender diverse populations do not constitute a "third gender" as it has sometimes been reported, but more so represent a "spectrum of expression and identity". "Some fakaleitī, fa'afafine and akava'ine would consider themselves women, but others would consider themselves trans, or both," she said.
Who created the Uhm Pacific gender identity guide?
Photo by Lukas Davidson. This guide was originally created by Eleanor Kleiber (UHM Pacific specialist librarian) and D. Kealiʻi MacKenzie, during his internship with the UHM Hawaiian and Pacific Collection in 2012. There are diverse and constantly shifting expressions of gender identity and sexual identity in the Pacific island region.
What influences gender identity?
From the evidence what influences gender identity is very complex. This is because gender and gender identity are not the same thing. One’s gender can be allocated as being inherited and controlled by the sex chromosomes; however gender identity seems in some cases to be unstable.
What are the factors that influence gender identity?
Biological factors that may influence gender identity include pre- and post-natal hormone levels and genetic makeup. Social factors include ideas regarding gender roles conveyed by family, authority figures, mass media, and other influential people in a child's life.
What factors influence gender differences?
According to biological theories, gender differences in psychology and behavior are caused by congenital factors, such as sex hormones, chromosomes, genes, and heredity (Feingold, 1994; Chaplin and Aldao, 2013).
What aspects of gender are shaped by culture?
Cultural Influences on Gender RolesEmployment. From an early age, children have learned societal expectations regarding gender-appropriate occupations from different places: in their homes, in businesses, restaurants, from the media, and from their peers. ... Family Relations. ... Social Behavior. ... Self-Awareness.
How does gender identity develop?
Gender identity typically develops in stages: Around age two: Children become conscious of the physical differences between boys and girls. Before their third birthday: Most children can easily label themselves as either a boy or a girl. By age four: Most children have a stable sense of their gender identity.
How does the environment affect gender?
Without careful planning, environmental projects have the potential to perpetuate gender inequality. Inattention to the different needs and priorities of men and women and the disparities between them when it comes to rights and natural resources is a barrier to achieving environment and development objectives.
What are the three main determinants of gender identity and expression?
These are: 1) the role of the brain; 2) the role of socialisation; and 3) multi-dimensional gender development.
What influences gender roles in today's society?
Gender roles are influenced by the media, family, environment, and society. A child's understanding of gender roles impacts how they socialize with their peers and form relationships.
How does culture influence identity?
Culture is a defining feature of a person's identity, contributing to how they see themselves and the groups with which they identify. A person's understanding of their own and other's identities develops from birth and is shaped by the values and attitudes prevalent at home and in the surrounding community.
How does culture influence gender equality?
Cultural processes maintain gender differences which act as barriers preventing an increase in the education of girls and women and ultimately reducing the number of women in positions of power, thus leading to a small scale of gender equality in a male-dominated society.
What are the 6 gender identities?
There are many different gender identities, including male, female, transgender, gender neutral, non-binary, agender, pangender, genderqueer, two-spirit, third gender, and all, none or a combination of these.
Who started gender identity?
John MoneyGender identity as a concept was popularized by John Money in the 1960s. He founded the Gender Identity Clinic at Johns Hopkins University and formulated, defined, and coined the term “gender role” and later expanded it to gender-identity/role.
What is the relationship between culture and gender?
Gender (like race or ethnicity) functions as an organizing principle for society because of the cultural meanings given to being male or female.
How does culture influence conformity?
A meta- analysis by Bond and Smith (1996) found that culture has significant influence on levels of conformity achieved by Asch-type conformity studies. They found that cul- tures with more dominant collectivist ideals tended to exhibit higher levels of confor- mity than individualistic cultures.
How does culture affect obedience?
Culture affects many social behaviors in learns in society. Culture variables like deference influence obedience as to how central it is to show respect to people in authority. In collectivistic cultures like India, it's very significant to obey an authority person at work or home.
What are cultural values?
Cultural Values are personal preferences that remain relatively stable over time. Understanding your own preferences and learning about the typical preferences of others can help you anticipate possible similarities and differences in ways people approach life and work.
What are the Hawaiian and Pacific collections?
The Hawaiian and Pacific collections provide access to books, magazines, journals, newspapers, music, film, as well as rare and archival materials. The librarians in the Hawaiian and Pacific collections can offer search strategies as well as connect you to other resources for research purposes.
What is PSDN in the Pacific?
The PSDN is a regional network of Pacific MSM and Transgender organisations whose mission is to strengthen community leadership, mobilisation and advocacy in the areas of sexuality and gender identities with respect to sexual health including STIs and HIV and AIDS , well being and Human Rights .
What is ISA Guahan?
ISA Guahan is an LGBTQ newsletter and network for the LGBTQ community on Guam.
Question
What are the key issues relating to gender in the Pacific Island countries – particularly Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru, Fiji and Vanuatu? Please include information on key trends and current issues; statistics; relevant government policies; anthropological texts; and high profile messages and statements.
Summary
Certain gender issues cut across many Pacific Island countries.
Identity
Taualuga: The Last Dance. Shigeyuki Kihara in solo performance at the 4th Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia, 2003. Photo by Lukas Davidson.
Acknowledgements
This guide was originally created by Eleanor Kleiber (UHM Pacific specialist librarian) and D. Kealiʻi MacKenzie, during his internship with the UHM Hawaiian and Pacific Collection in 2012.
Introduction
There are diverse and constantly shifting expressions of gender identity and sexual identity in the Pacific island region. Identity expressions that would be defined as homosexual or transgendered using western vocabulary often fulfilled important and well-established cultural or ritual functions within various parts of the Pacific.
From fa'afafine to fakaleiti: Understanding the context
Tahiti is not the only place home to māhū, as Hawaii is also home to them.
Some support from region's leaders
At a first glance, it may appear as though sexuality and gender diversity in the Pacific does not appear as fraught as it is in some Western countries.
How do stereotypes affect gender identity?
These stereotypes that occur shape the way the different genders are perceived and expected to behave. These are our gender roles and gender identities that don’t conform to these roles are seen as abnormal. It is however notable that the way society treats an individual can still not fully shape their gender identity. Society does play a major part in influencing gender identity but there is an argument that hormones released into the body at certain time, be normal or abnormal, can greatly influence the gender identity of a person.
What does it mean when you talk about gender?
What does one mean when they talk about gender? Gender must be defined before the factors influencing it can be identified. Are gender identities classified as male, female? Or is there a much more complex way at looking at what we constitute as gender. “Gender identity…a from sense of ourselves as either male or female.” (Patrice Dow-Nelson, 2003). But this definition is far too simple as words such as feminine and masculine have connotations attached to them which can alter peoples view on what constitutes gender. Gender roles and gender identities are ever changing so it raises an interesting question can factors influence gender at different times of development and do different factors have different levels of significance at different times in our lives.
How to determine if a person is male or female?
To identify someone as male or female then three categories are looked at before the determination is made. Genetic make-up, as in the presence or absence of a Y-chromosome; internal genitalia; and external genitalia. If a person has female chromosomes, female internal genitalia, and female external genitalia then they can be reasonably concluded to be female.
What are the two syndromes that affect genetic girls?
There are two syndromes that can affect genetic girls. One PIH (Progesterone induced hermaphroditism). This is a mild case and causes slight changes to the external genitalia and some behavioural changes. Female behaviour is not uniform and can range form ‘tom boy’, to ‘girly girl’. PIH girls sit at the ‘male’ extreme, yet have no problems with their gender identity. CVAH (Congenital virilizing adrenal hyperphasia) is a more serious syndrome. The adrenal gland produces steroid hormones, which in large doses act as androgens; ‘male makers’. This happens at the early stages of development and persists. At the mild end they are very like PIH girls, and the changes to the external genitalia can be corrected. However, at the extreme end it is difficult to know how to categorise the child. These are usually brought up as boys but are very confused about their gender identity and are often extremely unhappy and depressed.
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Vol 2 Gender in the Pacific
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