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Birth Order and Avuncular Tendencies in Samoan Men and Fa’afafine

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Abstract

Androphilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to males whereas gynephilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to females. In Samoa, transgendered androphilic males are known locally as fa’afafine. Previous research has shown that, compared to Samoan gynephilic men, fa’afafine report greater willingness to invest time and money toward nieces and nephews (i.e., greater avuncular tendencies) and also have greater numbers of older brothers and older sisters. The present study examined whether the Samoan male sexual orientation difference in avuncular tendencies could be accounted for by these parallel differences in numbers of older brothers and older sisters. The sample included 204 fa’afafine and 272 Samoan gynephilic men from our Samoan data archive for whom we had concurrent information on (1) a measure of willingness to invest time and money in nieces and nephews (i.e., avuncular tendencies) and (2) numbers of older and younger biological brothers and sisters. Among fa’afafine, but not Samoan gynephilic men, number of older brothers and number of older sisters were both significantly positively associated with avuncular tendencies. When controlling for number of older brothers, the magnitude of the male sexual orientation difference in avuncular tendencies was lowered, but remained statistically significant. In contrast, when controlling for number of older sisters, the male sexual orientation difference in avuncular tendencies ceased to exist. Discussion detailed how these findings help hone in on the proximate basis of elevated avuncular tendencies among fa’afafine. In addition, discussion focused on how particular evolutionary and cultural factors might relate to the avuncularity of fa’afafine.

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Notes

  1. It is important to note that studies of the relationship between birth order and sexual orientation typically examine this relationship in an inverse fashion by assessing the regression of sexual orientation on the sibship variables (i.e., numbers of older brothers, older sisters, younger brothers, and younger sisters) to identify which sibling categories are uniquely predictive of sexual orientation (for example, see Blanchard, 2004). However, testing whether sibship variables mediate the association between sexual orientation and avuncular tendencies, as we did here, required that regression analyses examine the regression of each sibship variable on group (see Frazier et al., 2004). Given this analytical difference, the analyses presented here are not useful for indicating how different categories of siblings might differentially contribute to the development of male androphilia in Samoa. For this latter information, see VanderLaan and Vasey (2011).

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Resitara Apa, J. Michael Bailey, Nancy Bartlett, Surindar Cheema, Gardenia Elisala, Vaosa Epa, Fitu Fuimaono, Valella Iosua, Martin Lalumière, Anita Latai, Tyrone Laurenson, Jeannette Mageo, Gaualofa Matalavea, Avau Junior Memea, Sam Pania, Sergio Pellis, Nella Tavita-Levy, Palanitina Toelupe, Trisha Tuiloma, Avalogo Togi A. Tunupopo, Erin Zelinski, the Kuka family of Savai’i, the National University of Samoa, the Samoan AIDS Foundation, the National University of Samoa, the Samoan Fa’afafine Association, the Government of Samoa, all individuals who participated in our study, the Editor, and three anonymous referees. We extend special thanks to Alatina Ioelu without whose help this study would not have been possible. This research was supported by the University of Lethbridge, by a NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship-D3, a Henry David Travel Grant, and a Ralph Steinhauer Award of Distinction to DPV as well as by a NSERC of Canada Discovery Grant to PLV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

    Doug P. VanderLaan & Paul L. Vasey

  2. Gender Identity Service, Child, Youth, and Family Program, Intergenerational Wellness Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada

    Doug P. VanderLaan

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  1. Doug P. VanderLaan
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  2. Paul L. Vasey
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Correspondence to Doug P. VanderLaan.

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VanderLaan, D.P., Vasey, P.L. Birth Order and Avuncular Tendencies in Samoan Men and Fa’afafine . Arch Sex Behav 42, 371–379 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-0039-z

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