The development and evolution of male androphilia in Samoan fa'afafine

Abstract

Male androphilia (i.e., male sexual attraction to males) is an evolutionary paradox. It is unclear how genes for male androphilia persist given that androphilic males have lowered reproduction? Evidence suggests that ancestral androphilic males were transgendered. Hence, I address this paradox by focusing on a group of Samoan transgendered androphilic males (i.e., fa’afafine). Specifically, I show that male androphilia has consistent developmental correlates across Samoan and Western populations, indicating that fa’afafine provide a suitable model for the evolution of male androphilia across populations. In addition, I test hypotheses concerning the evolution of male androphilia. Fa’afafine’s mothers and grandmothers exhibit elevated reproduction. Also, compared to Samoan men and women, fa’afafine exhibit unique kin-investment cognition that would enhance indirect fitness. Elevated reproduction by female kin, and enhanced kin investments may, therefore, contribute to the evolution of male androphilia. Lastly, I outline a developmental model for this unique kin-investment cognition in androphilic males.