Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa (1999)

An exploration of the Samoan faafafine, boys who are raised as girls, who fulfill a traditional role in Samoan culture. In the past they have shared women's traditional work but today are becoming more westernized and look more like drag queens. Several anthropologists comment on the phenomenon examining issues of culture and gender and the complexities of sexual identity.

Released Aug. 6, 1999 51 min None+

Genres: Documentary

Keywords: tmdb.gender, imdb.social-customs, imdb.bent, imdb.pacific-island, imdb.gender-identity-disorder, imdb.westernization, imdb.social-psychology + 66 more, imdb.child-development, imdb.western-samoa, imdb.western-civilization, imdb.islander, imdb.islands, imdb.crossdresser, imdb.crossdressing, imdb.elder, imdb.gender-role, imdb.transgender-woman, imdb.social-life, imdb.paradise, imdb.natural-history, imdb.polynesia, imdb.ethnology, imdb.gender-identity, imdb.identity, imdb.homosexuality, imdb.socialization, imdb.sociology, imdb.anthropology, imdb.culture, imdb.dance, imdb.dancer, imdb.nightclub, imdb.entertainer, imdb.boy, imdb.girl, imdb.cleaning, imdb.cooking, imdb.dancing, imdb.academic, imdb.anthropologist, imdb.interview, imdb.native, imdb.femininity, imdb.gay, imdb.masculinity, imdb.tradition, imdb.gender-roles, imdb.transgender, imdb.samoa, imdb.boy-raised-as-girl, imdb.fa-afafine, imdb.samoan, imdb.samoan-man, imdb.manhood, imdb.social-documentary, imdb.changing-gender-roles, imdb.reference-to-transvestism, imdb.boy-raised-as-a-girl, imdb.1990s, imdb.reference-to-margaret-mead, imdb.feminine-man, imdb.western-influence, imdb.gay-men, imdb.male-sexuality, imdb.traditional-sex-roles, imdb.traditional-sex-role-stereotypes, imdb.reference-to-transvestite, imdb.gay-relationship, imdb.gay-culture, imdb.cultural, imdb.f-rated, imdb.gender-conflict, imdb.gay-interest