Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to explore and add discourse to a topic that is often silenced. This thesis is focused on incest in Samoa and the hope is to add literature to this field, a field that is void of ethnic specific information. The aim of this study is to explore incest in Samoa, to record and understand how it takes place in Samoa, how being Samoan influences how incest takes place and also to uncover and explore the risk factors that are common in the reported and archived court cases with the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration in Samoa. This thesis utilized an archival approach, focusing on cases that were located in the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Samoa. A grounded theory approach and also coding of the findings was utilized to organize the data. The major themes that emerged from the findings include: what incest in Samoa looks like, the role of cultural practices on sentencing, and how being Samoan influences how incest is carried out and dealt with. This thesis also explores the challenges around the reporting or speaking out about incest. There is a hope that this thesis can encourage dialogue and increase the awareness around incest in Samoa. These will help to raise mindfulness around this sensitive subject.
