Be more Samoan to avoid injustice

I think the Samoan approach to gender could solve a lot of problems.

Agreed.

I thought it was an excellent article, Janice is a very good journalist.

I can’t read the article, it’s behind a paywall. What does it say?

This is the bit arguing that we should be more Samoan:

Samoa has a name for boys who prefer “feminine” clothing, games and roles: “fa’afafine”, meaning “in the manner of a woman”. Allotted traditionally female crafts and household duties, this “third gender” was revered for combining nurture with physical strength. In modern Samoa, there’s no stigma if your son is a fa’afafine: they are warmly accepted, even celebrated.

A fa’afafine, Jaiyah Saelua, was the first transgender footballer to play in a World Cup qualifying game. She was centre back for the American Samoan national team: the men’s team. Samoans understand that changing gender does not affect a person’s immutable biological sex.

And this is why:

Samoa enjoys few sporting glories but it excels at weightlifting. Feagaiga Stowers, just 20, a child sexual abuse survivor who started lifting while living in a domestic violence shelter, won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She looked a cert for the 2019 Pacific Games too, but instead the podium was topped by 41-year-old trans woman Laurel Hubbard. Bumped to second place, Stowers and team mate Iuniarra Sipaia, who took bronze, hung their heads in dismay.

Back in Samoa, the response was more baffled than furious. The prime minister asked how it could be fair that this New Zealand fa’afafine was competing against women.

Thank you, Baggs. Yes, that seems altogether fairer to women.

Dear God I didnt know that about Stowers, thankyou Baggs.

Samoans are inherently fair, principled people so apply fair principled judgements as to what is fair. What a shame so many other countries don't. Not at all surprised they're baffled by blatant (even if legal) cheating.