Breaking down barriers to Gender Equality for the Nofotane in the village of Foailalo
Written by Jordanna Mareko, WILS Project Coordinator — Communication, Advocacy and Awareness
Ferila Seve came into the village of Foailalo some twenty plus years ago. Married into the village, she joined other women in Foailalo who are known as nofotane. This is a term, or a reference, given to women who after marriage, live in their husband’s village with the husband’s family.
In 2020, a leadership training targeting women and girls from the district of Palauli included a group of women from Foailalo. During the training, this group of women developed a Breakthrough Initiative (BTI), translated as Fa’ama’ite, that sought to introduce changes within their Women’s Committee’s policies and practices.
Foailalo has three pillars in its fa’amatai governance structure. The village council, which consists of the titled men and the high chiefs of the village, wives and daughters of the village (aualuma & faletua ma tausi combined) and lastly the untitled men (aumaga). Within that structure, the women married into the village of Foailalo are combined with the daughters of the village (aualuma) as the Foailalo women’s committee.
Gender equality was a movement long asked for by the nofotane women of the village of Foailalo, located in the district of Palauli 1 in Savaii. In 2020, the answer to their prayers materialised in the form of Gagaemalae Tai’i, a daughter of the village. She, along with a group of other women from the village, collectively initiated a Breakthrough Initiative aimed at breaking through this long-standing barrier for all women (including the in-laws) in Foailalo to be equal. The BTI was to lobby for equality for women of all status in the village of Foailalo, and to give the opportunity to all women to be eligible to be voted on as a Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer in any of the organisations within the village.
Previously, the nofotane women in the village of Foailalo were not allowed to wear accessories (ula or earrings) or a flower on the ear. They were also not allowed to be elected to positions of decision making in any organisation in the village. “In Foailalo, nofotane are also not allowed to wear their hair in a high bun, and a dress code is observed on what they are allowed to wear and what not to wear. This has always been the practice from the past, and these women were not to be considered the same level as the “Tamaitai o le nuu” (ladies of the village). If a nofotane is found defying this rule, there are consequences for such action,” said Gagaemalae Tai’i, the Village Woman Representative for Foailalo.
When Gagaemalae and her group of women presented their BTI to the Women’s Committee of Foailalo and was accepted by them, Ferila saw this as an answer to her prayers. Not only for her but also for other nofotane women in the village, now and in the future. “Despite the service that we had done, if we make one mistake, whether it be wearing a flower on the ear, or putting our hair up in a high bun in the village, we were reminded of our place in the village and what we are allowed or not allowed to do. It was frustrating at times because we did not feel included even when they say that we are, but only to an extent,” said Ferila.
The Fa’ama’ite was a tactic to unleash their capacity as leaders to challenge the existing practices and to provide a safe and equal platform for all women of Foailalo. The BTI also created an opportunity for a future based on the universal values of peace, equality, justice, and respect for all. Enabling them to see the patterns and systems in society which perpetuate problems and learn how to create solutions to resolve any social issues they want to focus on, especially within their community.
For Ferila, she welcomes this change and opportunity for her and many other women with the same status. “After we got married, we came to stay with my husband’s family and was introduced into the type of lifestyle that was expected of me and where my place is. I accepted it and lived by it, with the hope that one day it will somehow change.”
Nofotane women have traditionally played little or no role in decision making within families, churches, committees, and the village. Simultaneously, they also play an important role in the social and cultural life of the village. With the ban now lifted, nofotane women are now eligible to sit and be involved in the making of decisions. Ferila herself now sits as the Secretary of the Women’s committee, elected by the women themselves.
“We welcome this new change in our village, to be included, to be heard and to be allowed on a certain level. Not only for ourselves, but also for generations to come, to have peace and harmony in the village. I am happy to be alive at such a time as this, to witness these changes happening in our village of Foailalo,” said Ferila.
Gagaemalae said: “Now that this has been accepted by the Women’s Committee, with the guidance of the Village Council, we are proud of the achievements we’ve made to correct the gender imbalance and social discrimination that was practiced in Foailalo for a long time. In the past, this may have been a good practice, to have order and peace between the women of the village and the nofotane women. Times and perspectives have changed, and we acknowledge the importance of working together with every woman, taking into account their contributions in the village.”
The training programme in which this Break Through Initiative was initiated, is known as the Village Leadership Development Initiative (VLDI), through the Women in Leadership in Samoa (WILS) Project — a three-year project jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women, with funding from the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of Samoa.
