FAKAFEFINE - MEN WHO ARE LIKE WOMEN - INC EST TABOO AND TRANSSEXUALITY IN TONGA (POLYNESIA)

In Polynesia, transvestite and transsexual behaviour is common among m en. The upbringing of boys and girls is one of the social rites initia ted by mothers there. The ''male'' alternative - coping with aggressio n via cannibalistic rites - exerts no attraction on the ''fakafefine'' , who instead idealize their relation to their mothers. With reference to interviews with ''fakafefine'', Heinemann points up the unconsciou s significance of this behavior, the function of incest defence, the o edipal avoidance involved and the fear of fusion with the seductive mo ther. As a social rite, it is a guarantor of the incest taboo between the siblings at the head of the ruling can and hence of the community.